Cowperwood looked at him fixedly as he issued from the doorway surrounded by chiefs of staff, local dignitaries, detectives, and the curious, sympathetic faces of the public.

As he studied the strangely rough-hewn countenance a sense of the great worth and dignity of the man came over him.
"A real man, that," he thought; "a wonderful temperament." His every gesture came upon him with great force.

He watched him enter his carriage, thinking "So that is the railsplitter, the country lawyer.
Well, fate has picked a great man for this crisis." For days the face of Lincoln haunted him, and very often during the war his mind reverted to that singular figure.

It seemed to him unquestionable that fortuitously he had been permitted to look upon one of the world's really great men.

War and statesmanship were not for him; but he knew how important those things were--at times..