NICOLAY

[_Thinking._]

Miss Winter is due here with her lover--a young Captain of Grant's Army----

[_Pauses._]

LINCOLN

Well----?

NICOLAY

[_Slowly._]

In view of the attempts to take your life--I made some inquiries to-day about him--I knew the White House would be without guards to-night----

[_Pauses._]

LINCOLN

Yes--yes--go on----! What about him?

NICOLAY

He was on McClellan's staff at one time----

LINCOLN

That's promising----!

NICOLAY

He's a McClellan man--then----

LINCOLN

Beyond a doubt----

NICOLAY

In the hospital the past two months he has heard a lot of bitter talk----

LINCOLN

[_Quickly._]

And may have joined The Knights of the Golden Circle----!

NICOLAY

It's almost a certainty----

LINCOLN

Of course. Their infernal agents haunt our hospitals daily, and pour their poison into every open wound----

NICOLAY

Prove to this boy to-night that these men are liars----

LINCOLN

If he'll listen----

NICOLAY

He's got to listen! He comes to ask of you a great favor----

LINCOLN

I wonder what?

NICOLAY

I couldn't find out. But you can use the opportunity to gain his confidence. He is engaged to a girl who is Mrs. Lincoln's intimate friend--a girl who admires and trusts you. You can _win him_, Chief, if you only try!

LINCOLN

[_With excited emphasis._]

Don't you worry--I'm going to try----!

[_Pauses._]

--You wait and show them in. I'll report to Mother my talk with McClellan. She'll be uneasy about it. I'll be back in a minute----

NICOLAY

All right, sir.

[LINCOLN _exits._]

[NICOLAY _watches him go with deep sympathy, shaking his head as_ BETTY _and_ VAUGHAN _enter._]

Oh, Miss Winter----

BETTY