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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
