LEE--I am not in the least interested in your threats and I will ask you to be kind enough to leave in order to save me the trouble of having you put out. BUCK--I reckon you don't know who you're talking to. I'm Buck Brown and this is Coyote Jim, my running mate, and all the rest of these here is our pals and have come to back us up in anything we say. LEE--I am here to work not to argue. If you are not away from these works in three minutes, I will take means to see that you are. BUCK--Did you know the city gov'ment wasn't going to give you no money for your work? LEE--They can do as they like with their own, but I was sent here to do certain work, and I will do it. BUCK--(_Pointing._) Do you see them cannons up there? Unless you quit your dirty meddlin', you'll have a chance to get acquainted with them. LEE--Do you think I'd be kept from doing my duty by a pack of bullies and cowards? Go back and hide behind your cannon. You'll need more than those to protect you if you meddle again. (_BUCK and his friends skulk out._) SCENE III _Banquet Hall of the Palace, City of Mexico, after its conquest by the American forces. Officers sitting around the table._ Characters General Scott General Wilcox General Twiggs General Magruder Thirty other officers WILCOX--Well, I must say I'm thankful it's all over and I do hope it isn't long before we can get back to God's own country. Furthermore, I for one am thankful enough to be sitting here enjoying myself. SCOTT--I am inclined to believe that if it had not been for one Captain Robert E. Lee, you and I would still be fighting those slippery Mexicans. PIERCE--Yes, I have the utmost confidence in the skill and judgment of Captain Lee. TWIGGS--His gallantry and good conduct deserve the highest praise. WILCOX--(_Rising and raising his glass._) Gentlemen, I wish to propose a toast that I know you will all drink heartily. I propose the health of the Captain of Engineers who found a way for our army into the city. Gentlemen, (_Raising his glass again_) the health of Captain Robert E. Lee! (_All the officers rise at once and lift their glasses. Then look around for LEE._) WILCOX--Why he isn't here. What can be the matter. MAGRUDER--I'll go and fetch him. SCOTT--You might know Lee would be first in the battle and last at a banquet. TWIGGS--I thought all of the crowd were here. SCOTT--They are all here but Lee. Evidently we were all too much interested in our food to notice anything else. Let's sing a song to welcome him. (_They sing two stanzas of "Yankee Doodle."_) TWIGGS--Here comes Magruder alone. (_MAGRUDER enters._) Why, what's the matter? Couldn't you find him? MAGRUDER--Oh, I found him all right, but that was all the good it did me. SCOTT--Is he ill? MAGRUDER--If he is, I wish I had the same thing the matter with me. He's suffering from a sense of duty. TWIGGS--You don't have to worry then. WILCOX--Tell us all about it.