Oh--Meester Presiden--I praise ze good God---- LINCOLN There! There! Now, don't do that, you'll have me crying in a minute and John Nicolay here will see me---- THE SISTER Ya! Meester Nicolay--won't mind--he so kind to me too---- [NICOLAY _has prepared the pardon and the President signs and hands it to her._] THE SISTER [_Seizing the pardon._] Wiz all my heart! LINCOLN [_To_ NICOLAY.] Send her to Stanton, and tell him to rush that order to stay the execution. They shall not shoot this poor boy, ignorant of our laws, but if he can find the man who put that little book---- [_Holds up book._] into his hand, advising desertion--I'll hang him on a gallows forty cubits high! [_He lays the booklet on his desk._] [NICOLAY _writes on the back of the pardon._] THE SISTER [_Joyfully._] Mein brudder he vill go back und he vill be von goot poy for you, Meester Presiden---- LINCOLN Yes, I know he will, my child, I know he will. Good-by, and God bless you. THE SISTER Und God bless you, Meester Presiden----! [NICOLAY _pauses at the door and gives orders to the doorman._] NICOLAY Edward, take her to the War Office with this message---- EDWARD Yes, sir---- CONGRESSMAN I demand to see the President at once---- NICOLAY I can't admit you, Mr. Congressman, just now---- CONGRESSMAN [_Forcing his way in._] I demand it, sir---- [LINCOLN _crosses to the door._] LINCOLN What is it, John---- CONGRESSMAN Mr. President, I have been here three times! I demand the right to see you--to ask the pardon of one of my constituents. LINCOLN All right! Out with it! CONGRESSMAN He is one of the solid citizens of Massachusetts; a slave trader whose ship has been confiscated. He has spent five years in prison, and cannot pay the heavy fine in money imposed---- He is not a bad man at heart. LINCOLN And he wants _me_ to pardon him--this slave-trader----! CONGRESSMAN I ask it as a matter of justice--he has paid the penalty--five long years in prison---- LINCOLN [_Laughs._] I might pardon a murderer from old Massachusetts, she's done glorious service in this war--but a man who can make a business of going to Africa and robbing her of helpless men, women and children and selling them into bondage----! [_He pauses and stiffens._] --before that man can have liberty by any act of mine, he can stay in jail and rot!