Thus accoutred he continued to retreat, never doubting of his personal escape but full of other misgivings.  The early buoyancy of his belief in the future was destroyed.  If the road of glory led through such unforeseen passages—­he asked himself, for he was reflective, whether the guide was altogether trustworthy.  And a patriotic sadness not unmingled with some personal concern, altogether unlike the unreasoning indignation against men and things nursed by Colonel Feraud, oppressed the equable spirits of Colonel D’Hubert.  Recruiting his strength in a little German town for three weeks, he was surprised to discover within himself a love of repose.  His returning vigour was strangely pacific in its aspirations.  He meditated silently upon that bizarre change of mood.  No doubt many of his brother officers of field rank had the same personal experience.  But these were not the times to talk of it.  In one of his letters home Colonel D’Hubert wrote:  “All your plans, my dear Leonie, of marrying me to the charming girl you have discovered in your neighbourhood, seem farther off than ever.  Peace is not yet.  Europe wants another lesson.  It will be a hard task for us, but it will be done well, because the emperor is invincible.”

Thus wrote Colonel D’Hubert from Pomerania to his married sister Leonie, settled in the south of France.  And so far the sentiments expressed would not have been disowned by Colonel Feraud who wrote no letters to anybody; whose father had been in life an illiterate blacksmith; who had no sister or brother, and whom no one desired ardently to pair off for a life of peace with a charming young girl.  But Colonel D’Hubert’s letter contained also some philosophical generalities upon the uncertainty of all personal hopes if bound up entirely with the prestigious fortune of one incomparably great, it is true, yet still remaining but a man in his greatness.  This sentiment would have appeared rank heresy to Colonel Feraud.  Some melancholy forebodings of a military kind expressed cautiously would have been pronounced as nothing short of high treason by Colonel Feraud.  But Leonie, the sister of Colonel D’Hubert, read them with positive satisfaction, and folding the letter thoughtfully remarked to herself that “Armand was likely to prove eventually a sensible fellow.”  Since her marriage into a Southern family she had become a convinced believer in the return of the legitimate king.  Hopeful and anxious she offered prayers night and morning, and burned candles in churches for the safety and prosperity of her brother.

She had every reason to suppose that her prayers were heard.  Colonel D’Hubert passed through Lutzen, Bautzen, and Leipsic, losing no limbs and acquiring additional reputation.  Adapting his conduct to the needs of that desperate time, he had never voiced his misgivings.  He concealed them under a cheerful courtesy of such pleasant character that people were inclined to ask themselves with wonder whether Colonel D’Hubert was aware of any disasters.  Not only his manners but even his glances remained untroubled.  The steady amenity of his blue eyes disconcerted all grumblers, silenced doleful remarks, and made even despair pause.