GILMORE

[_In low tones to_ VAUGHAN.]

What are you doing here?

VAUGHAN

Writing! I don't know you----

GILMORE

The hell you don't!

VAUGHAN

No!

GILMORE

We worked on the same paper in Washington, once----

VAUGHAN

Never saw you before----

GILMORE

Get-word-through-will you! _We're in a trap!_

VAUGHAN

Shut your damned trap! or we'll both make our breakfast on lead at
sunrise to-morrow morning! Get back to your seat!

[_The sound of approaching steps are heard._ BENJAMIN _enters as_
GILMORE _drops into his seat._]

BENJAMIN

Gentlemen: The President of the Confederate States of America!

[DAVIS _enters and bows to his visitors, who rise. His figure is
about five foot ten and quite thin. His features are typically the
Southern scholar and thinker with angular cheeks and high cheek
bones. His iron gray hair is long and thick and inclined to curl at
the ends. His whiskers are thin and trimmed farmer fashion, on the
lower end of his strong chin. His eyes flash with strong vitality.
His forehead is broad, his mouth strong. He wears a brown suit of
foreign cloth which fits him perfectly. His shoulders slightly
droop. His manner is easy and graceful, his voice charming and
cultured._]

DAVIS

I am glad to meet you, gentlemen. You are very welcome to Richmond.

GILMORE

We thank you, Mr. Davis.

DAVIS

Mr. Benjamin tells me that you have asked to see me----

[_He pauses and waits for his visitors to finish the sentence._]

JACQUESS

Yes, sir. Our people want Peace. Your people do. We have come to ask
how it may be brought about?

DAVIS

Very simply. Withdraw your armies from the South, let us alone and
Peace comes at once.

JACQUESS

But we cannot let you alone so long as you seek to divide the Union.

DAVIS

I know. You deny us, what you exact for yourselves--the right of
self-government.

JACQUESS

Even so, Mr. Davis, we cannot fight foreve