“March 20, 1685.
“Madame de Saint-Mars having told me that you wished to go to the baths of Aix in Savoy, I have informed the King, and his Majesty has commanded me to acquaint you that he is pleased to grant you permission to absent yourself from Exiles on this ground for the space of a fortnight or three weeks.”
“July 5, 1688.[587]
“The King approves of your absenting yourself from the place where you command, two days a month, and also of your returning the Governor of Nice the visit he has paid you.”[588]
Thus, save the precautions taken to prevent an escape—and we have seen that these were prescribed to Saint-Mars, in the same form and with the same minute instructions, for all prisoners alike, whoever they might be, even for that Eustache d’Auger, who was turned into a servant for Fouquet—save, I say, these precautions, necessary but exaggerated by Saint-Mars’ scruples, we do not find in these two captives any of the essential characteristics of the Man with the Iron Mask. Not that we accept all those with which romance has adorned him. But, however insignificant exact history may represent him, is he to be recognized in one of those two men,[589] termed “crows” by Saint-Mars, “these sort of people” by Louvois, treated in the manner we have seen; the total value of whose effects, linen, and furniture, was only thirteen crowns, and whom their gaoler received permission to leave frequently and for considerable periods of time?
But there is another result of our researches, quite as unknown as that which we have just set forth.
Saint-Mars is at the Isles Sainte-Marguerite, which he does not scruple to leave from time to time. All at once, on February 26, 1694, the Minister announces to him the approaching arrival at the islands of three State prisoners who are then in the donjon of Pignerol. He inquires of Saint-Mars “if there are secure places to confine them in,” and orders him to make preparations, repairs, and the necessary arrangements for their reception.[590] In another letter, on the following 20th of March, Barbézieux adds these words, the great importance of which it is unnecessary to point out: “You well know that they are of more importance, at least, one of them, than those who are now at the islands, and you ought to place them by preference in the most secure prisons.”[591] Then he orders him “to prepare the furniture and plate necessary for their use, and impresses upon him that the works which he is compelled to have done should be ready on their arrival.” By the same courier he forwards fifteen hundred livres to meet the first expenses.
A few days afterwards, in fact, three prisoners arrived at the Isles Sainte-Marguerite, surrounded by a very strong escort, in charge of the commandant of Pignerol, who alone gave them their food,[592] and guided by two sure men sent on in advance by the Governor; among these prisoners, as we shall see hereafter, was the one whom Saint-Mars some years later took to the Bastille.
FOOTNOTES:
[564] Thus named on account of a cross to which pilgrimages were formerly made:—Promenades de Nice, by Émile Negrin, p. 273.