"Ah! at Richmond, is he? Only a little while ago you told this creditor that you did not know where he was, and I understood you to say the same in your story to me, and now, all at once, when you seek to screen him from justice and from Northern laws, you recollect that he is at Richmond. Very well, sir, then to the Richmond authorities he must look for protection, while this Northern merchant has no protection save through our provost-court, and though I told him, previous to your coming here, that the court could not take up such cases, yet now that I have heard your story, and see that by allowing you to retain and sell the goods will virtually be to give 'aid and comfort to the enemy,' while to interfere in behalf of this merchant will be to weaken the enemy, by cutting off some of his resources, besides doing an act of simple justice--in view, I say, of all these facts, I am now resolved to take up this case, and the first step in the case will be for the court to take possession of the store-room and all of its contents until the case can be heard and adjudicated. You will at once hand the key of the store-room, after closing it carefully, to the Provost-Marshal. He will place a guard over the premises to see that nothing is taken away or disturbed until the case is heard and decided, and to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, you will be at the court with any books, papers, or witnesses you may have, when the case will be heard." Had a bombshell fallen and burst at the feet of the agent, he could not have been more surprised. For some moments he seemed so dumbfounded that he could not, or did not, utter a word. Then, slowly arising to his feet, he was about to leave, when the Judge told him to again be seated, to await the coming of the Provost-Marshal, for whom he had sent. When the Marshal made his appearance, the Judge directed him to accompany the agent to the store-room, to see that every window and every door was securely closed and fastened, to then place a guard both at the front and at the rear of the premises, and to see that they were regularly relieved and replaced, the same as other guards of the city, until further orders from the court, and meanwhile to retain the key of the store-room in his own possession, and see that nothing whatever was removed from the premises. The agent then left with the Marshal, and all was done precisely as directed. That the Philadelphia merchant was pleased with the turn things had taken need hardly be added. Next day, at ten o'clock, the Philadelphia merchant, the agent, and about a dozen friends of the agent, including the secession lawyer heretofore spoken of, appeared at the court-room. When all the police cases had been disposed of, the court said it was now ready to hear the civil case, in which, upon the court record, Mr. G., of Philadelphia, was named as plaintiff, and Mr. T., of Alexandria, as agent for Mr. S., was named as defendant.