[390] Louvois inquired in vain as to the manner in which Fouquet had been able to compound this sympathetic ink. “It is necessary,” he wrote to Saint-Mars on July 26, 1665, “that you should endeavour to find out from Monsieur de Fouquet’s servant how [his master] has written the four lines which appeared upon the book on warming it, and of what he has composed this writing.”
[391] The following is one of the first letters written from Pignerol by Saint-Mars. It is one of the rare letters addressed to Colbert. Saint-Mars made some progress in orthography after this, and the later despatches which we have of his show a rather less imperfect knowledge of the French language:—
“At Pignerol, this 13 February, 1665.
“Monseigneur—I have nothing fresh to tell you; everything is going on all right, in my humble opinion. I had been assured that there was a man of M. Fouquet’s here in the town. I had him sought for by the major, he has not been found; he has not shown himself before the prisoner’s windows, and I have taken care to say everywhere that I would not advise him to appear before the donjon, and that [if he did] it would not be a case of live and let live. I believe that this has frightened him. I thank you very humbly, Monseigneur, for the care and kindness that you have for me. I have received, by the last post, an account for the subsistence here for the present month which I am about to draw. My company arrived here on the 9th, and has already mounted guard. There is so much work to do here for the safety of a prisoner that I shall not be altogether settled for three weeks. M. Fouquet wishes to confess every month. I have given him a confessor who is of the household of one M. d’Amorclan, a man altogether devoted to Mgr. le Tèlier. For myself, I should approve of him; but as I have received orders to change him continually, I shall not allow him to confess until I receive your commands. I shall always await them with impatience, having no stronger desire than to please you, and to call myself all my life, Monseigneur, your very humble,” &c.—Manuscripts of the Imperial Library, Volumes in Green, C.
[392] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, August 24, 1665.
[393] Ibid., August 2, 1665.
[394] Ibid., March 26, 1669.
[395] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, September 25, 1669.
[396] Ibid., December 25, 1665.
[397] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, December 13, 1670.