And no message of any kind from John since he left? LINCOLN Not yet. BETTY Why--_why_ hasn't he reported? LINCOLN [_Hopefully._] I'm sure--remember, _sure to a moral certainty_--that he left Richmond safely. BETTY [_Eagerly._] You _have_ a message then? LINCOLN Indirectly---- BETTY Oh---- LINCOLN [_To_ EDWARD _at door._] Edward, ask Mr. Gilmore to step in here a minute. EDWARD Yes, sir. LINCOLN Gilmore's report ought to be worth half a million votes for me--it may be worth something to you-- [GILMORE _enters._] Gilmore, did you see a handsome young fellow in Confederate uniform taking notes at your interview with Davis---- GILMORE Yes, sir, and I knew him too---- BETTY [_Eagerly._] It was Captain Vaughan? GILMORE Sure! He denied it, of course, but I knew him all right. BETTY He was well? GILMORE I never saw him looking better. He was scared stiff, of course, and so were we---- BETTY Thank you! LINCOLN That'll do, Gilmore. I wish you'd help Nicolay choke that Committee off a little while--and you come with them when they break in--will you? GILMORE Gladly, Mr. President. [GILMORE _exits._] LINCOLN [_To_ BETTY _lightly._] Now you've had some good news---- BETTY [_Forlornly._] How long since any word came from General Sherman? LINCOLN Two days. I know the hole where he went in at. But I can't tell where the old varmint's going to come out---- BETTY [_Chokes._] If he ever comes out! LINCOLN Oh! He'll come out---- [_He stops and listens at the telegraph instrument again, and sighs in disappointment._] He'll come out somewhere--It's a habit Uncle Billy has---- BETTY [_Hopelessly._] They've no news at the War Department either. LINCOLN No news is generally good news from Sherman. [BETTY _turns away to hide her tears and_ LINCOLN _follows her with tender pleading._] Come, come, my dear--these tears won't do! You've got to help me now! [BETTY _brushes the tears away._] I may have sent your lover to his death. I know that! But he went with a smile on his face and a great joy in his heart for the service he was doing his country---- BETTY Yes--I know--I know--I'm proud of the honor you did him.