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----