"Nay, Hugo, I do not mean to mortify you. I am truly grateful for your devotion, and you will find it to be so when I am gone." "You are a long time going!" thought Hugo, as his cold glance rested on the trembling form of his uncle. "It is exasperating that you should linger so, cutting me off perhaps for half a dozen years longer from the enjoyment of the estate which is one day to be mine." It was well that the old man could not read the thoughts of the man in whom he placed so much confidence. He little knew the cold, crafty, scheming character of the man who supplied to him the place of son and grandson. "If you have no more to say, uncle, I will leave you," said Hugo, rising. "I came near forgetting. I want you to find out all about that boy and let me know. The manager boards at this hotel." "Still harping on the boy!" muttered Hugo. "Very well, uncle, I will do as you say." "Thank you, Hugo. I shall feel more easy in mind when I have learned." As Hugo left the room, he said to himself, "I will do as my uncle requests, but for my own benefit, not his. Though I would not confess it to him, the resemblance to my cousin is startling. I don't wonder Uncle Cornelius noticed it. Can it be possible that Fitzgerald deceived me, and that the boy is really alive, and is a bareback circus-rider? He is capable of playing me false. If he has done so, I must at all hazards prevent my uncle finding it out. The estate of Chestnutwood, for which I have schemed so long, must be mine. The life of a frail old man alone separates me from it now, but if this boy were found, then I should sink back to my life of humble dependence. It shall never be!" It was not yet 10 o'clock, and Hugo was in no mood for bed. He went down-stairs and remained in the bar room till the return of the hotel guests who were connected with the circus. Towards 10.30, Mr. Coleman, proprietor of the circus, entered the office of the hotel. He was in good spirits, for there had been a large attendance at the first performance, and the prospects of a successful season were flattering. "Good evening, Mr. Coleman," said Hugo, approaching the manager, to whom he had been introduced; "did your first performance pass off well?" "It was immense, sir, immense! I am proud of Crampton! It has received me royally," returned the manager, enthusiastically. "I am glad to hear it. May I offer you a cigar?" "Thank you, sir." "You will find mine choicer than any you can procure here. I spent a part of the evening at the tent." "I hope you didn't get tired." "Oh, no; that was not the cause of my coming away. The fact is, my uncle, who was with me, became fatigued (he is a very old man), and I felt obliged to come home with him. I should have been glad to stay till the close." "It's a pity you did. Coleman's circus, though I do say it myself, has no superior on the road this season." "I can easily believe it, sir. By the way, I was rather interested in the bareback riding."