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Rising, he carefully closed the door and seated himself near the visitor.

“You received my message, then?”

“Yes, sir. You have need of my services?”

“I wish your advice, at any rate. But first, does any of my men know you?”

“I think not. I know none of them.”

“I have here an invoice of silks shipped me from Lyons, France, by Danton & Co. There were two cases of these goods, valued, as you see, at ten thousand dollars. The ship Everhart, which had them in freight, reached Philadelphia two weeks ago. Her cargo was duly discharged, and the goods deposited in the Government warehouse.”

“Why not brought at once to your store?” asked Mr. Fitler, drumming with his fingers on the table.

“Such was my intention, and I directed my confidential clerk, Mr. Wilson, to pay the duties, and see that they were brought here. He did the first, and obtained the Government order for their delivery, which was locked up in my presence, in the fire-proof there. He was hindered from doing the second by news of the death of a near relative in Harrisburg, whose funeral he was obliged to attend.”