_Lincoln (after a silence_): For four years life has been but the hope of this moment. It is strange how simple it is when it comes. Grant, you've served the country very truly. And you've made my work possible. _He takes his hand_. Thank you. _Grant_: Had I failed, the fault would not have been yours, sir. I succeeded because you believed in me. _Lincoln_: Where is Lee? _Grant_: He's coming here. Meade should arrive directly. _Lincoln_: Where will Lee wait? _Grant_: There's a room ready for him. Will you receive him, sir? _Lincoln_: No, no, Grant. That's your affair. You are to mention no political matters. Be generous. But I needn't say that. _Grant (taking a paper from his pocket_): Those are the terms I suggest. _Lincoln (reading):_ Yes, yes. They do you honour. _He places the paper on the table. An_ ORDERLY _comes in_. _Orderly_: General Meade is here, sir. _Grant_: Ask him to come here. _Orderly_: Yes, sir. _He goes_. _Grant_: I learnt a good deal from Robert Lee in early days. He's a better man than most of us. This business will go pretty near the heart, sir. _Lincoln_: I'm glad it's to be done by a brave gentleman, Grant. GENERAL MEADE _and_ CAPTAIN SONE, _his aide-de-camp, come in_. MEADE _salutes. Lincoln_: Congratulations, Meade. You've done well. _Meade_: Thank you, sir. _Grant_: Was there much more fighting? _Meade_: Pretty hot for an hour or two. _Grant_: How long will Lee be? _Meade_: Only a few minutes, I should say, sir. _Grant_: You said nothing about terms? _Meade_: No, sir. _Lincoln_: Did a boy Scott come to you? _Meade_: Yes, sir. He went into action at once. He was killed, wasn't he, Sone? _Sone_: Yes, sir. _Lincoln_: Killed? It's a queer world, Grant. _Meade_: Is there any proclamation to be made, sir, about the rebels? _Grant_: I-- _Lincoln_: No, no. I'll have nothing of hanging or shooting these men, even the worst of them. Frighten them out of the country, open the gates, let down the bars, scare them off. Shoo! _He flings out his arms_. Good-bye, Grant. Report at Washington as soon as you can. _He shakes hands with him_. Good-bye, gentlemen. Come along, Hay. MEADE _salutes and_ LINCOLN _goes, followed by_ HAY. _Grant_: Who is with Lee? _Meade_: Only one of his staff, sir. _Grant_: You might see Malins, will you, Sone, and let us know directly General Lee comes. _Sone_: Yes, sir. _He goes out_. _Grant_: Well, Meade, it's been a big job. _Meade_: Yes, sir. _Grant_: We've had courage and determination. And we've had wits, to beat a great soldier. I'd say that to any man. But it's Abraham Lincoln, Meade, who has kept us a great cause clean to fight for. It does a man's heart good to know he's given victory to such a man to handle. A glass, Meade? _(Pouring out whiskey_.) No? _(Drinking_.) Do you know, Meade, there were fools who wanted me to oppose Lincoln for the next Presidency. I've got my vanities, but I know better than that. MALINS _comes in_.