Mars, at Pignerol in Piedmont, expect from Dunkirk a prisoner of the
very highest importance--a valet! This valet, now called 'Eustache
Dauger,' can only have been Marsilly's valet, Martin, who, by one
means or another, had been brought from England to Dunkirk. It is
hardly conceivable, at least, that when a valet, in England, is
'wanted' by the French police on July 1, for political reasons, and
when by July 19 they have caught a valet of extreme political
importance, the two valets should be two different men. Martin must
be Dauger.

Here, then, by July 19, 1669, we find our unhappy serving-man in the
toils. Why was he to be handled with such mysterious rigour? It is
true that State prisoners of very little account were kept with
great secrecy. But it cannot well be argued that they were all
treated with the extraordinary precautions which, in the case of
Dauger, were not relaxed for twenty-five or thirty years. The King
says, according to Louvois, that the safe keeping of Dauger is 'of
the last importance to his service.' He must have intercourse with
nobody. His windows must be where nobody can pass; several bolted
doors must cut him off from the sound of human voices. Saint-Mars
himself, the commandant, must feed the valet daily. 'YOU MUST
NEVER, UNDER ANY PRETENCE, LISTEN TO WHAT HE MAY WISH TO TELL YOU.
YOU MUST THREATEN HIM WITH DEATH IF HE SPEAKS ONE WORD EXCEPT ABOUT
HIS ACTUAL NEEDS. He is only a valet, and does not need much
furniture.'*

*The letters are printed by Roux Fazaillac, Jung, Lair, and others.

Saint-Mars replied that, in presence of M. de Vauroy, the chief
officer of Dunkirk (who carried Dauger thence to Pignerol), he had