threatened to run Dauger through the body if he ever dared to speak,
even to him, Saint-Mars. He has mentioned this prisoner, he says,
to no mortal. People believe that Dauger is a Marshal of France, so
strange and unusual are the precautions taken for his security.

A Marshal of France! The legend has begun. At this time (1669)
Saint-Mars had in charge Fouquet, the great fallen Minister, the
richest and most dangerous subject of Louis XIV. By-and-by he also
held Lauzun, the adventurous wooer of la Grande Mademoiselle. But
it was not they, it was the valet, Dauger, who caused 'sensation.'

On February 20,1672, Saint-Mars, for the sake of economy wished to
use Dauger as valet to Lauzun. This proves that Saint-Mars did not,
after all, see the necessity of secluding Dauger, or thought the
King's fears groundless. In the opinion of Saint-Mars, Dauger did
not want to be released, 'would never ask to be set free.' Then why
was he so anxiously guarded? Louvois refused to let Dauger be put
with Lauzun as valet. In 1675, however, he allowed Dauger to act as
valet to Fouquet, but with Lauzun, said Louvois, Dauger must have no
intercourse. Fouquet had then another prisoner valet, La Riviere.
This man had apparently been accused of no crime. He was of a
melancholy character, and a dropsical habit of body: Fouquet had
amused himself by doctoring him and teaching him to read.

In the month of December 1678, Saint-Mars, the commandant of the
prison, brought to Fouquet a sealed letter from Louvois, the seal
unbroken. His own reply was also to be sealed, and not to be seen
by Saint-Mars. Louvois wrote that the King wished to know one
thing, before giving Fouquet ampler liberty. Had his valet,
Eustache Dauger, told his other valet, La Riviere, what he had done