Meade:  Only a few minutes, I should say, sir.

Grant:  You said nothing about terms?

Meade:  No, sir.

Lincoln:  Did a boy Scott come to you?

Meade:  Yes, sir.  He went into action at once.  He was killed, wasn’t he, Sone?

Sone:  Yes, sir.

Lincoln:  Killed?  It’s a queer world, Grant.

Meade:  Is there any proclamation to be made, sir, about the rebels?

Grant:  I—­

Lincoln:  No, no.  I’ll have nothing of hanging or shooting these men, even the worst of them.  Frighten them out of the country, open the gates, let down the bars, scare them off.  Shoo!

He flings out his arms.

Good-bye, Grant.  Report at Washington as soon as you can.

He shakes hands with him.

Good-bye, gentlemen.  Come along, Hay.

MEADE salutes and LINCOLN goes, followed by HAY.

Grant:  Who is with Lee?

Meade:  Only one of his staff, sir.

Grant:  You might see Malins, will you, Sone, and let us know directly General Lee comes.

Sone:  Yes, sir. He goes out.

Grant:  Well, Meade, it’s been a big job.

Meade:  Yes, sir.

Grant:  We’ve had courage and determination.  And we’ve had wits, to beat a great soldier.  I’d say that to any man.  But it’s Abraham Lincoln, Meade, who has kept us a great cause clean to fight for.  It does a man’s heart good to know he’s given victory to such a man to handle.  A glass, Meade? (Pouring out whiskey.) No? (Drinking.)

Do you know, Meade, there were fools who wanted me to oppose Lincoln for the next Presidency.  I’ve got my vanities, but I know better than that.

MALINS comes in.

Malins:  General Lee is here, sir.

Grant:  Meade, will General Lee do me the honour of meeting me here?

MEADE salutes and goes.

Where the deuce is my hat, Malins?  And sword.

Malins:  Here, sir.

MALINS gets them for him.  MEADE and SONE come in, and stand by the door at attention.  ROBERT LEE, General-in-Chief of the Confederate forces, comes in, followed by one of his staff.  The days of critical anxiety through which he has just lived have marked themselves on LEE’S face, but his groomed and punctilious toilet contrasts pointedly with GRANT’S unconsidered appearance.  The two commanders face each other.  GRANT salutes, and LEE replies.

Grant_:  Sir, you have given me occasion to be proud of my opponent.

Lee:  I have not spared my strength.  I acknowledge its defeat.

Grant:  You have come—­

Lee:  To ask upon what terms you will accept surrender.  Yes.