These thoughts passed through the mind of Hugo Richmond, but it is needless to say that he did not give utterance to them, or to anything like them. His course was not to oppose strongly any whim of his uncle, but to seemingly assent, and then oppose it secretly, while the old man thought him to be promoting it. Nevertheless Hugo was very much annoyed at the present caprice of his uncle, as he chose to style it. "I wish I had never gone into that circus," he reflected, with annoyance. "Till then my uncle's mind was at rest, and he didn't trouble himself with the thought that Julian's son might still be alive. Now the mischief has been done, and the sight of that boy has upset him and endangered my prospects. Who would have thought that such a chance visit would have led to such results? Well, well, it is going to give me some trouble, but I am master of the situation, and my uncle shall never again set eyes on that boy if I can prevent it." Hugo took his hat and went out to look after some laborers who were at work in the rear of the lawn, when his attention was drawn to a rather shabby-looking figure approaching the house. CHAPTER XV. A COMPACT. Hugo stopped short, till the stranger should come up. He intended to warn him off the grounds, as an intruder. "Look here, my man," he said, with an air of authority, "are you aware that these are private grounds?" "I suppose they are," said the intruder, smiling. Hugo was surprised to see that he showed no confusion or timidity, but stood his ground boldly. The fellow's unconcern nettled him. "Then, if you suppose they are," he said, sharply, "you must know that you are trespassing. You can have no business here, and the best course, if you wish to avoid trouble, is to turn about and gain the highway as speedily as possible." Hugo fancied that this would be sufficient to put the intruder to flight, but he was mistaken. "Who told you I had no business here?" he asked. "Don't be impertinent! A man like you can have no business here unless you wish to obtain a position as laborer, and we have no vacancy of that kind." The intruder held out his hands and said, quietly: "Do them look like the hands of a laborer?" Hugo glanced at them. They were as white and unsoiled by any of the outward evidences of manual labor as his own. Yet the man was shabbily dressed, and looked poor. Be that as it might, he had never been accustomed to labor with his hands. "No," answered Hugo, "but that isn't in your favor. However, I have no further time to waste with you. Leave these grounds at once." "Not until I have had some further conversation with you, Mr. Hugo Richmond," said the visitor, regarding Hugo fixedly. "Who are you?" demanded Hugo, abruptly. "You know my name, it seems. Have I ever known you?" "Yes." "What is your name?" "Fitzgerald."