The first Act of this play is very "Wilde-ish" and, at the same time, very modern. Three characters, a merchant, his wife, and a visiting lord or high-class person discuss the trials of being a merchant and, from the lord's point,the uselessness of trading. Then a territorial war is waged-the prize is the wife. The Preface is more concerned with Wilde's play,"Salome" and not connected with anything so could be deleted. The first Act shows Wilde at his best and leaves the reader with wanting more.