“Robert Onslow and Charles Kenrick.”
“O yes! Onslow, you say, has been a captain in the Rebel service. Both the young men shall be honorably placed where they can distinguish themselves. I’ll speak to Stanton about them this very day. Let me make a note of it.”
The President drew from his pocket a memorandum-book and hastily wrote a line or two. Vance rose to take his leave.
“Mr. President,” said he, “I thank you for this interview. But there’s one thing in which you’ve disappointed me.”
“Ah! you think me rather a slow coach, eh?”
“Yes; but that wasn’t what I alluded to.”
“What then?”
“From what I’ve read about you in the newspapers, I expected to have to hear one of your stories.”
A smile full of sweetness and bonhommie broke over the President’s care-worn face as he replied: “Really! Is it possible? Have you been here all this time without my telling you a story? Sit down, Mr. Vance, and let me make up for my remissness.”
Vance resumed his seat.