“I do not reply to you concerning that which you have done me the honour to write me with your own hand, with reference to the prisoners of the donjon, except that I shall conduct myself according to your orders and instructions with the greatest secrecy, entire circumspection, and every possible measure for the security of these prisoners, without having the slightest temptation to the least petty curiosity.”[606]
But, no matter how great the precautions taken may have been, no matter how reserved from that date Barbézieux and Saint-Mars may have shown themselves in their despatches, these still disclose something; and, fine as may be the thread which will permit us to follow Matthioly to his death, it is nevertheless visible.
The prisoners delivered over by Laprade to Saint-Mars were old captives, whom the latter had already had in charge at Pignerol. This is clear: 1st, from a despatch, dated January 11, 1694, in which the Minister asks Saint-Mars the name of one of Laprade’s prisoners who had just died;[607] 2nd, from the conclusion of the first despatch, announcing to Saint-Mars the approaching arrival of the prisoners at Pignerol: “I do not inform you of the number, persuaded that you know it;”[608] 3rd, from that significant phrase which we have already quoted from the second despatch relating to the transfer of these prisoners: “You know that they are of more consequence, or at least one of them, than those who are now at the Islands, and you ought to place them by preference in the surest prisons.”[609] Now it is quite certain, that at the time of his departure from Pignerol to Exiles, Saint-Mars had no other considerable prisoner except Matthioly, Fouquet being dead and Lauzun set at liberty. We may remark, too, that it is in Villebois’ care that he leaves him, Villebois who, with Catinat, had been charged with the mission of arresting Matthioly on the road to Turin.[610] When Villebois dies, it is another of Saint-Mars’ confidential lieutenants—the Sieur de Laprade, who is sent from the Islands to command in the donjon of Pignerol.[611] Consequently Saint-Mars—and this is an essential point to establish,—did not cease to be acquainted with Matthioly’s fate, and it is his own lieutenants who have replaced him for a time in guarding this prisoner.
We have shown, in the preceding chapter,[612] the evident obscurity of the insignificant prisoner brought by Saint-Mars from Exiles to the Isles Sainte-Marguerite. His furniture and effects are only worth thirteen crowns; his gaoler leaves him without scruple; he is designated as “a crow.” A new prisoner, “of more consequence than the others,” arrives at the Islands. From that moment Saint-Mars does not quit them; but immediately imagines fresh measures for the safety of his prisoners, which the Minister approves, July 20, 1694.[613]
It is about this period that we find, in the official despatches, the name of the Sieur Favre, whom the most unquestionable tradition represents as having been chaplain of the prison at the time that the Man with the Iron Mask was confined there.[614] Barbézieux, who previously had not been troubled with this anxiety, all at once thinks of what would happen if Saint-Mars should fall ill, and, with anxious solicitude, inquires[615] immediately what would be done if this should occur.[616] On January 15, 1696, we find a new despatch from Barbézieux, expressing, in the King’s name and his own, the satisfaction experienced on learning the precautions adopted.[617] On October 29, 1696, the Minister causes the locks of the donjon of Pignerol to be sent to the Isles Sainte-Marguerite, in order to render the confinement of the prisoners more secure.[618]
But there follows a despatch more significant still. Its existence was first revealed, then contested, and historical criticism finished by no longer believing in it, and by rejecting it altogether. Nevertheless it exists, and I have reproduced it in Chapter V.[619] It concludes thus: “Without explaining yourself to any one whatever about what your old prisoner has done.”
These words: “Your old prisoner,” have grammatically but one meaning—that is to say, the prisoner whom you formerly had in your care, and who has been again confided to you. Besides, I may remark, that if there should be any doubt about the meaning, this phrase cannot possibly apply to the prisoner brought by Saint-Mars from Exiles, since he arrived at the island in April, 1687. For, how can we imagine that the inhabitants of Sainte-Marguerite would have waited ten years, before concerning themselves with the causes of his confinement? This curiosity of the inhabitants of the island, this astonishment, the prime origin of the legend which became current in the district, is very naturally explained by the arrival of the prisoners from Pignerol, surrounded by a strong escort, guarded by Saint-Mars’ confidential men, placed, one at least, in the most secure prison, and the importance of whom was attested by the preparations, repairs, and purchases executed at the time by Saint-Mars. There is nothing striking in the treatment of the prisoner brought from Exiles, nothing which could excite surprise, and, anyhow, there is the positive certainty that this surprise would have been produced in any case during the early years of his residence at the Isles Sainte-Marguerite.
Pignerol was restored to the Duke of Savoy a short time after the arrival of the new prisoners at the islands. I have carefully looked through all the despatches exchanged between Lamothe-Guérin, Saint-Mars’ successor at the Islands, and the Court of Versailles, during the ten years (1698 to 1708) which followed the latter’s departure for the Bastille.[620] Not one of them contains the name of Matthioly, or makes mention of an important prisoner, left behind by Saint-Mars. Matthioly was still at Pignerol on December 27, 1693, a few months previous to the transfer of the three prisoners to the Isles Sainte-Marguerite. They were all old captives formerly in the care of Saint-Mars. The latter, we have seen, was ignorant of the causes of their detention, save of Matthioly’s alone. The logical conclusion of our preceding remarks is, therefore, that these words: “Without explaining yourself to any one whatever about what your old prisoner has done,” are applicable to what the Government of Versailles termed the treason of Matthioly. ] If this be admitted—and we trust that our readers will have no doubt with reference to it—if it be admitted that the despatch of November 17, 1697, is applicable to Matthioly, the only prisoner, we must again repeat, whose crime Saint-Mars was acquainted with, the identity of the Man with the Iron Mask is established.
On March 1, 1698, Barbézieux offers Saint-Mars the nomination to the Governorship of the Bastille.[621] He accepts this offer, and, on June 17, 1698, the Minister replies:—
“Versailles, June 17, 1698.