He threw on a dressing-gown, hurried down stairs, and found all the doors fast closed and locked as usual at that hour. He opened the front-door, and looked forth,--but no one was to be seen. Bewildered and alarmed, he returned to his bed-chamber, and once more sought his couch. He again fell asleep, in the midst of numerous and conflicting conjectures relative to the incident which had just occurred; and when he awoke two hours afterwards, he was fain to persuade himself that it was all a dream. He dressed himself, and walked towards the hill. On his arrival at the top, he instinctively cast his eyes upon the name and date carved in the bark of his brother's tree. But how great was his surprise--how ineffable his joy, when he beheld fresh traces of the same hand imprinted on that tree. Beneath the former memento--and still fresh and green, as if they had only been engraved a few hours--were the words-- EUGENE. _May 17th, 1838._ "My God!" exclaimed Richard, "it was then no dream!" He threw himself upon the seat between the two trees and wept abundantly. CHAPTER XL. THE SPECULATION.--AN UNWELCOME MEETING. Five months elapsed; and in the middle of October Richard received an invitation to pass a few days at the abode of Count Alteroni. He contemplated change of scene with unfeigned delight, and lost no time in repairing to Richmond. The count received him with the utmost cordiality: the countess expressed a regret that he should wait to be solicited to honour them with his company; and Isabella's countenance wore a smile and a blush as she extended her hand towards him. "I was anxious to see you again," said the count, after dinner, before the ladies had retired, "if it were only to joke you about the fright into which you threw poor Bounce the last time you were here. Isabel apprehended a duel between you and Dapper; but we never could learn the origin of your dispute." "Indeed, I scarcely dreaded such an event," said Isabella; "for however capable Mr. Markham may be of fighting, I felt perfectly well convinced that Captain Dapper would not be induced to commit such a breach of the peace." "Our dispute was a mere trifle," said Markham; "and I am sorry it should have reached your ears." "The Trojan war sprung from a trifle," cried the count: "but these trifles are frequently very interesting." "The truth is," said Richard, "that I overheard Captain Dapper abuse me to his companion, heaven only knows why! Sir Cherry Bounce started away; and I was compelled to give the young officer a couple of boxes upon the ears to teach him courtesy in future." Isabella laughed heartily at this anecdote; and Markham felt indescribably happy when he thus received a convincing proof that the lovely Italian was in no way interested in that aspirant to her hand.