[Pauses.]
Tyrant and usurper they call me! And I'm the humblest man who walks the earth to-night!
Vaughan
[Slowly sinking to a seat and covering his face with his hands in a cry of despair.]
Oh,—my God——!
Lincoln
[Bending in sorrowful amazement and touching Vaughan's head.]
Why,—what's the matter, my boy——? I'm the only man to despair. You're just a Captain in the army. You have only to obey your superior officer. If to be the head of hell is as hard as what I've had to undergo here, I could find it in my heart to pity Satan himself. And if there's a man outside of perdition who suffers more than I do, I pity him——!
Vaughan
[Springing to his feet and throwing his hands up in anguish.]