_Lincoln_: My compliments to them, and will they be prepared to see me here at once if necessary. Send the same message to any other ministers you can find. _Clerk_: Yes, sir. _He goes_. _Lincoln_: We may have to decide now--now. HAY _shows in a perspiring and dust-covered_ MESSENGER, _and retires_. From Major Anderson? _The Messenger_: Yes, sir. Word of mouth, sir. _Lincoln_: Your credentials? _The Messenger (giving_ LINCOLN _a paper_): Here, sir. _Lincoln (glancing at it_): Well? _The Messenger_: Major Anderson presents his duty to the government. He can hold the Fort three days more without provisions and reinforcements. LINCOLN _rings the bell, and waits until a third_ CLERK _comes in_. _Lincoln_: See if Mr. White and Mr. Jennings have had any answer yet. Mr.--what's his name? _Seward_: Hawkins. _Lincoln_: Mr. Hawkins is attending to them. And ask Mr. Hay to come here. _Clerk_: Yes, sir. _He goes_. LINCOLN _sits at the table and writes_. HAY _comes in_. _Lincoln (writing):_ Mr. Hay, do you know where General Scott is? _Hay_: At headquarters, I think, sir. _Lincoln_: Take this to him yourself and bring an answer back. _Hay_: Yes, sir. _He takes the note, and goes_. _Lincoln:_ Are things very bad at the Fort? _The Messenger_: The major says three days, sir. Most of us would have said twenty-four hours. _A knock at the door_. _Seward:_ Yes. HAWKINS _comes in_. _Hawkins_: Mr. White is just receiving a message across the wire, sir. _Lincoln_: Ask him to come here directly he's finished. _Hawkins_: Yes, sir. _He goes_. LINCOLN _goes to a far door and opens it. He speaks to the_ MESSENGER. _Lincoln_: Will you wait in here? _The_ MESSENGER _goes through_. _Seward_: Do you mind if I smoke? _Lincoln_: Not at all, not at all. SEWARD _lights a cigar_. Three days. If White's message doesn't help us--three days. _Seward_: But surely we must withdraw as a matter of military necessity now. _Lincoln_: Why doesn't White come? SEWARD _goes to the window and throws it up. He stands looking down into the street_. LINCOLN _stands at the table looking fixedly at the door. After a moment or two there is a knock._ Come in. HAWKINS _shows in_ WHITE _and_ JENNINGS, _and goes out_. SEWARD _closes the window_. Well? _White_: I'm sorry. They won't give way. _Lincoln_: You told them all I said? _Jennings_: Everything. _Lincoln_: It's critical. _White_: They are definite. LINCOLN _paces once or twice up and down the room, standing again at his place at the table_. _Lincoln:_ They leave no opening? _White_: I regret to say, none. _Lincoln_: It's a grave decision. Terribly grave. Thank you, gentlemen. Good-morning. _White and Jennings_: Good-morning, gentlemen. _They go out_. _Lincoln_: My God! Seward, we need great courage, great faith. _He rings the bell. The_ SECOND CLERK _comes in._ Did you take my messages? _The Clerk_: Yes, sir. Mr. Chase and Mr. Blair are here. The other ministers are coming immediately.