A flat desk left center. At right a long table and chairs. Doors open right and left. Large windows open center. Beside the center window stands an upright desk. In one corner a rack with map rollers and folios of maps on the floor and leaning against the wall._

AT RISE: _Colonel Nicolay, the President's Secretary, is seen writing before an enormous pile of mail. He reads a letter and throws it down in disgust. Reads another and hurls it into the waste basket. He rises--turns back to the desk and hurls an armful of the letters into the corner on the floor and removes enough letters to clear a s.p.a.ce for his Chief to write._

[EDWARD _enters dragging a mail bag._]

NICOLAY

[_Calling to the Doorman._]

Edward!

EDWARD

Yes, sir----

NICOLAY

Hold that door tight this morning----

EDWARD

Tight as a drum, sir----

NICOLAY

If any men of importance try to crowd in before their time----

EDWARD

I'll look out for them, sir--here's another bag of letters, Colonel Nicolay----

NICOLAY

Another----?

EDWARD

And there's two more outside----

NICOLAY

My G.o.d----!

EDWARD

Don't blame me, sir--I didn't write 'em----

NICOLAY

No, I'll vouch for your loyalty to the President.

EDWARD

Where'll I put these----?

NICOLAY

Throw the bag in the corner--there's 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

G.o.d save us! After nearly four years--quit, with nothing settled----?