EDWARD I'll look out for them, sir--here's another bag of letters, Colonel Nicolay---- NICOLAY Another----? EDWARD And there's two more outside---- NICOLAY My God----! EDWARD Don't blame me, sir--I didn't write 'em---- NICOLAY No, I'll vouch for your loyalty to the President. EDWARD Where'll I put these----? NICOLAY Throw the bag in the corner--there's no room on his desk now---- EDWARD [_Obeying._] Yes, sir---- [EDWARD _throws the bag in the corner of the room where_ NICOLAY _has already piled the letters from the desk, and turns to_ NICOLAY. _He watches_ NICOLAY _destroying letters for a moment._] NICOLAY Well, Edward----? EDWARD Will you tell me one thing, Colonel Nicolay----? NICOLAY If I can---- EDWARD What do they say in these letters to the President----? I've served through four administrations--I've never seen such piles of letters in the White House before---- NICOLAY Well, Edward--these letters ask two things of Abraham Lincoln: That he dismiss General Grant from command of the Army---- EDWARD The idiots---- NICOLAY And stop the war to-day--August 23, 1864,--make peace--peace at any price--to-day---- EDWARD God save us! After nearly four years--quit, with nothing settled----? NICOLAY That's what these letters demand---- EDWARD You couldn't believe it---- No wonder his eyes sink back in his head, an' he looks as if he were seeing ghosts---- [_Pauses and starts._] NICOLAY Watch out for that door, Edward---- [EDWARD _bows, and exits to door leading to the main corridor._ NICOLAY _returns to his task of reading the letters--one he tosses into the basket wearily--one he crumples in anger and hurls into the basket._] NICOLAY The fools----! [_He is absorbed in a letter when_ MRS. LINCOLN _enters in a state of nervous excitement. He rises quickly, and goes to meet her._] What is it, Mrs. Lincoln----? MRS. LINCOLN I have just heard that the Republican National Committee is in Washington----! NICOLAY They are---- MRS. LINCOLN In conference at Senator Winter's house----? NICOLAY Yes---- MRS. LINCOLN What do they want? NICOLAY There are ugly rumors----