ention----

NICOLAY

I thought so----

LINCOLN

John, if I could win one man out of the inner councils of the
Copperhead orders--one man who really loves his country----

NICOLAY

Can a Copperhead love his country----?

LINCOLN

Why not----? A rattlesnake might love his own fence corner! There are
plenty of honest misguided men among them. I have been studying Baker's
report this afternoon---- If I could just get hold of _one_
Copperhead who knows the signs and passwords of their inner council,
I've worked out A PLAN THAT CAN WIN THIS FIGHT!

NICOLAY

[_Suddenly._]

The very man may be on the way here at this moment!

LINCOLN

[_Eagerly._]

What's that----?

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?