e uncle who had defrauded him of his birthright. Walking in Vine
street one morning, he suddenly came face to face with the man whose
boots he had brushed, more than three years before, on the steps of the
Astor House. He knew him at once by the _peculiar scar upon his right
cheek_, of which he had taken particular notice when they first met.

CHAPTER XVIII.

UNCLE AND NEPHEW.

Our hero stopped short, and, being directly in the path of his uncle,
the latter was compelled to stop, too.

"Mr. Grey," said Gilbert.

"That's my name," said the other, who had not yet taken particular
notice of the youth who addressed him. But, as he spoke, he looked at
him, and instantly recognized him. Gilbert could see that he did by his
sudden start, and expression of surprise and annoyance. He couldn't
understand how the New York bootblack had been metamorphosed into the
well-dressed and gentlemanly-looking young clerk. He regretted so soon
acknowledging his name, and marveled how Gilbert could have learned it.

"What business have you with me, young man?" he continued, formally.

"I have wanted to meet you for a long time," said Gilbert.

"Indeed!" said his uncle, with a sneer. "I am rather surprised to hear
this, not having, to my knowledge, ever had the honor of seeing you
before."

"I am your nephew," said Gilbert, bluntly.

"Then he knows," said Mr. Grey to himself, rather disturbed.

"I confess," he said, in the same sarcastic tone, "I am slightly
disturbed at being claimed as a near relative by a stranger whom I
happen to encounter in the street. May I ask how you happen to be my
nephew?"

"I am the son of your older brother, John," said Gilbert.

"That can hardly be, young man. My brother had but one son, and he
died."

"Disappeared, you mean," said Gilbert, significantly.

"There is no doubt that he died," said Mr. Grey, positively.

"Then he has come to life again, for I am he."

"You are an impudent impostor," said Mr. Grey, hotly; "but you have
missed your mark. I am not so easily humbugged. I denounce you and your
pretensions as alike false. Let me pass."

As he said this he attempted to pass Gilbert, but our hero had no
intention of losing sight of his uncle.

"Of course you can pass," he said; "but I shall follow you."

"You will?" demanded his uncle, shaking his cane angrily. "Then I will
put you in the hands of the police."

"I don't think you will," said Gilbert, with perfect composure.