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the kingdom by his brother Louis XVIII。 D'Aiglemont received a commission in the Life Guards； equivalent to the rank of general。 But amid the rejoicings over the return of the Bourbons； fate dealt poor Julie a terrible blow。 The death of the Marquise de Listomere…Landon was an irreparable loss。 The old lady died of joy and of an accession of gout to the heart when the Duc d'Angouleme came back to Tours； and the one living being entitled by her age to enlighten Victor； the woman who； by discreet counsels； might have brought about perfect unanimity of husband and wife； was dead； and Julie felt the full extent of her loss。 Henceforward she must stand alone between herself and her husband。 But she was young and timid； there could be no doubt of the result； or that from the first she would elect to bear her lot in silence。 The very perfections of her character forbade her to venture to swerve from her duties； or to attempt to inquire into the cause of her sufferings； for to put an end to them would have been to venture on delicate ground； and Julie's girlish modesty shrank from the thought。
A word as to M。 d'Aiglemont's destinies under the Restoration。
How many men are there whose utter incapacity is a secret kept from most of their acquaintance。 For such as these high rank； high office； illustrious birth； a certain veneer of politeness； and considerable reserve of manner； or the /prestige/ of great fortunes； are but so many sentinels to turn back critics who would penetrate to the presence of the real man。 Such men are like kings； in that their real figure； character； and life can never be known nor justly appreciated； because they are always seen from too near or too far。 Factitious merit has a way of asking questions and saying little； and understands the art of putting others forward to save the necessity of posing before them； then； with a happy knack of its own； it draws and attaches others by the thread of the ruling passion of self…interest； keeping men of far greater abilities to play like puppets； and despising those whom it has brought down to its own level。 The petty fixed idea naturally prevails； it has the advantage of persistence over the plasticity of great thoughts。
The observer who should seek to estimate and appraise the negative values of these empty heads needs subtlety rather than superior wit for the task； patience is a more necessary part of his judicial outfit than great mental grasp； cunning and tact rather than any elevation or greatness of ideas。 Yet skilfully as such usurpers can cover and defend their weak points； it is difficult to delude wife and mother and children and the house…friend of the family； fortunately for them； however； these persons almost always keep a secret which in a manner touches the honor of all； and not unfrequently go so far as to help to foist the imposture upon the public。 And if； thanks to such domestic conspiracy； many a noodle passes current for a man of ability； on the other hand many another who has real ability is taken for a noodle to redress the balance； and the total average of this kind of false coin in circulation in the state is a pretty constant quantity。
Bethink yourself now of the part to be played by a clever woman quick to think and feel； mated with a husband of this kind； and can you not see a vision of lives full of sorrow and self…sacrifice？ Nothing upon earth can repay such hearts so full of love and tender tact。 Put a strong…willed woman in this wretched situation； and she will force a way out of it for herself by a crime； like Catherine II。； whom men nevertheless style 〃the Great。〃 But these women are not all seated upon thrones； they are for the most part doomed to domestic unhappiness none the less terrible because obscure。
Those who seek consolation in this present world for their woes often effect nothing but a change of ills if they remain faithful to their duties； or they commit a sin if they break the laws for their pleasure。 All these reflections are applicable to Julie's domestic life。
Before the fall of Napoleon nobody was jealous of d'Aiglemont。 He was one colonel among many； an efficient orderly staff…officer； as good a man as you could find for a dangerous mission； as unfit as well could be for an important command。 D'Aiglemont was looked upon as a dashing soldier such as the Emperor liked； the kind of man whom his mess usually calls 〃a good fellow。〃 The Restoration gave him back his title of Marquis； and did not find him ungrateful； he followed the Bourbons into exile at Ghent； a piece of logical loyalty which falsified the horoscope drawn for him by his late father…in…law； who predicted that Victor would remain a colonel all his life。 After the Hundred Days he received the appointment of Lieutenant…General； and for the second time became a marquis； but it was M。 d'Aiglemont's ambition to be a peer of France。 He adopted； therefore； the maxims and the politics of the /Conservateur/； cloaked himself in dissimulation which hid nothing （there being nothing to hide）； cultivated gravity of countenance and the art of asking questions and saying little； and was taken for a man of profound wisdom。 Nothing drew him from his intrenchments behind the forms of politeness； he laid in a provision of formulas； and made lavish use of his stock of the catch…words coined at need in Paris to give fools the small change for the ore of great ideas and events。 Among men of the world he was reputed a man of taste and discernment； and as a bigoted upholder of aristocratic opinions he was held up for a noble character。 If by chance he slipped now and again into his old light…heartedness or levity； others were ready to discover an undercurrent of diplomatic intention beneath his inanity and silliness。 〃Oh！ he only says exactly as much as he means to say；〃 thought these excellent people。
So d'Aiglemont's defects and good qualities stood him alike in good stead。 He did nothing to forfeit a high military reputation gained by his dashing courage； for he had never been a commander…in…chief。 Great thoughts surely were engraven upon that manly aristocratic countenance； which imposed upon every one but his own wife。 And when everybody else believed in the Marquis d'Aiglemont's imaginary talents； the Marquis persuaded himself before he had done that he was one of the most remarkable men at Court； where； thanks to his purely external qualifications； he was in favor and taken at his own valuation。
At home； however； M。 d'Aiglemont was modest。 Instinctively he felt that his wife； young though she was； was his superior； and out of this involuntary respect there grew an occult power which the Marquise was obliged to wield in spite of all her efforts to shake off the burden。 She became her husband's adviser； the director of his actions and his fortunes。 It was an unnatural position； she felt it as something of a humiliation； a source of pain to be buried in the depths of her heart。 From the first her delicately feminine instinct told her that it is a far better thing to obey a man of talent than to lead a fool； and that a young wife compelled to act and think like a man is neither man nor woman； but a being who lays aside all the charms of her womanhood along wit