[140] Such is the account given by M. de Palteau, the direct descendant of St. Mars, in a letter to Freron, dated Palteau, June 19th, 1768. It was published in the “Année Littéraire” for that year, and has since been republished by Mr. Craufurd, in his paper on the Iron Mask.
[141] Delort.
[142] The place of “Lieutenant de Roi,” at the Bastille, was created by Lewis the Fourteenth, for M. Dujonca, who had been “Exempt” of one of the regiments of the King’s Body-guards. He acquired great credit by his endeavours to procure the release of the prisoners under his care, whom, upon inquiry, he found to be unjustly detained. Some one represented to him that he would deprive himself of a great portion of his profits by thus diminishing the number of prisoners—to which he replied, “I can only lose my money, but these unhappy people are deprived of what is more valuable to them than even life itself.”
[143] These towers are supposed to have been so called from the names of the architects who built them.
[144] Rosarges was made Major of the Bastille by St. Mars.
[145] Extract from the Journal of Dujonca, first published by Griffet, then by St. Foix, and subsequently by Mr. Craufurd.
[147] Mr. Craufurd, on the authority of Linguet.
[148] Delort and Craufurd.