Robert listened to this communication with intense interest. Could it be that this Julian Richmond was his father? It was the first clew of any kind that he had ever found, and he repeated over to himself the names of Julian and Cornelius Richmond, determined to remember them, and some time to make further inquiries.
Meanwhile Fitzgerald, turning, noticed that Robert was conversing with a stranger. Though he was far from suspecting that an important secret has been revealed to the boy, he was naturally of a cautious temperament, and he thought it imprudent to allow Robert to become intimate with any one, lest possibly when he disappeared he might be suspected of having had some agency in the affair. He therefore walked up rapidly to where the two were conversing.
"Robert," he called, when two rods distant.
Robert obeyed the summons.
"I think we will go back to the hotel. I have something to do before leaving Niagara, and there is not much time."
"O, Mr. Fitzgerald," said Robert, eagerly, "that gentleman tells me I look very much like an old school-mate of his."
Fitzgerald was instantly alarmed. He knew, for Hugo had told him, that the boy bore a wonderful resemblance to his dead father, and, of course, that father must have old friends and acquaintances who would see the resemblance and possibly betray it to the boy.
"Is there anything so remarkable in that?" he asked. "Probably there are hundreds of people whom you resemble."
"But he said I looked as if I might be this man's son," continued Robert.
"Did he mention the name of this old school-mate?" inquired Fitzgerald, alarmed.