"Colonel," the thin Southerner said in his musical voice, "I respect
your character and your motives and I wish you well--every good wish
possible consistent with the interests of the Confederacy."
As they were passing through the door, he added:
"Say to Mr. Lincoln that I shall at any time be pleased to receive
proposals for peace on the basis of our independence. It will be useless
to approach me with any other."
Next morning the visitors waited in vain for the appearance of Judge
Ould to convey them once more into the Union lines. Visions of a long
term in prison, to say nothing of a possible hang-man's noose, began to
float before their excited fancy. They had expected the Judge at eight
o'clock. It was three in the afternoon when he entered with the laconic
remark:
"Well, gentlemen, if you are ready, we'll walk around to Libby Prison."
Certain of their doom, the two men rose and spoke in concert:
"We are ready."
They followed the Judge downstairs and found the same coal black driver
with the rickety team that had brought them into Richmond.
Gilmore smiled into the Judge's face:
"Why were you so long coming?"
Ould hesitated and laughed:
"I'll tell you when the war's over. Now I'll take you through the Libby
and the hospitals, if you'd like to go."
When they had visited the prison and hospitals, Gilmore again turned to
the Judge:
"Now, explain to us, please, your delay this morning--we're curious.
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