g yet from General Sherman?

LINCOLN

Nothing----

BETTY

And no message of any kind from John since he left?

LINCOLN

Not yet.

BETTY

Why--_why_ hasn't he reported?

LINCOLN

[_Hopefully._]

I'm sure--remember, _sure to a moral certainty_--that he left
Richmond safely.

BETTY

[_Eagerly._]

You _have_ a message then?

LINCOLN

Indirectly----

BETTY

Oh----

LINCOLN

[_To_ EDWARD _at door._]

Edward, ask Mr. Gilmore to step in here a minute.

EDWARD

Yes, sir.

LINCOLN

Gilmore's report ought to be worth half a million votes for me--it may
be worth something to you--

[GILMORE _enters._]

Gilmore, did you see a handsome young fellow in Confederate uniform
taking notes at your interview with Davis----

GILMORE

Yes, sir, and I knew him too----

BETTY

[_Eagerly._]

It was Captain Vaughan?

GILMORE

Sure! He denied it, of course, but I knew him all right.

BETTY

He was well?

GILMORE

I never saw him looking better. He was scared stiff, of course, and so
were we----

BETTY

Thank you!

LINCOLN

That'll do, Gilmore. I wish you'd help Nicolay choke that Committee off
a little while--and you come with them when they break in--will you?

GILMORE

Gladly, Mr. President.

[GILMORE _exits._]

LINCOLN

[_To_ BETTY _lightly._]

Now you've had some good news----

BETTY

[_Forlornly._]

How long since any word came from General Sherman?

LINCOLN

Two days. I know the hole where he went in at. But I can't tell where
the old varmint's going to come out----

BETTY

[_Chokes._]

If he ever comes out!

LINCOLN

Oh! He'll come out----

[_He stops and listens at the telegraph instrument again, and sighs
in disappointment._]