"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."