Daugercannothavebeenunderfifty-three。
Therethecasestands。IfMattiolidiedinApril，1694，hecannotbetheManintheIronMask。OfDauger’sdeathwefindnorecord，unlesshewastheManintheIronMask，anddied，in1703，intheBastille。Hewascertainly，in1669and1688，atPignerolandatSainte-Marguerite，thecenterofthemysteryaboutsomegreatprisoner，aMarshalofFrance，theDucdeBeaufort，orasonofOliverCromwell。Mattioliwasnotmystery，nosecret。Daugerissomysteriousthatprobablythesecretofhismysterywasunknowntohimself。By1701，whenobscurewretcheswereshutupwiththeMask，thesecret，whateveritsnature，hadceasedtobeofmoment。
Thecaptivewasnowthemerevictimofcruelroutine。Buttwentyyearsearlier，Saint-MarshadsaidthatDauger“takesthingseasily，resignedtothewillofGodandtheKing。“
Tosumup，onJuly1，1669，thevaletoftheHuguenotintriguer，RouxdeMarsilly，thevaletresidentinEngland，knowntohismasteras“Martin，“was“wanted“bytheFrenchsecretpolice。ByJuly19，avalet，ofthehighestpoliticalimportance，hadbeenbroughttoDunkirk，fromEngland，nodoubt。Myhypothesisassumesthatthisvalet，thoughnowstyled“EustacheDauger，“wasthe“MartinofRouxdeMarsilly。HewaskeptwithsomuchmysteryatPigernolthatalreadythelegendbeganitscourse；thecaptivevaletwassaidtobeaMarshalofFrance!WethenfollowDaugerfromPigneroltoLesExiles，tillJanuary，1687，whenonevaletoutofapair，Daugerbeingoneofthem，dies。WepresumethatDaugeristhesurvivor，becausethegreatmysterystillis“whatheHAS
DONE，“whereastheothervalethaddonenothing，butmayhaveknownDauger’ssecret。Againtheothervalethadlongbeendropsical，andthevaletwhodiedin1687diedofdropsy。
In1688，Dauger，atSainte-Marguerite，isagainthesourceandcenterofmyths；heistakenforasonofOliverCromwell，orfortheDucdeBeufort。InJune1692，oneoftheHuguenotpreachersatSaint-Margueritewritesonhisshirtandpewterplateandthrowsthemoutofthewindow。[1]LegendattributestheseactstotheManintheIronMask，andtransmutesapewterintoasilverplate。
Now，in1689-1693，MattioliwasatPignerol，butDaugerwasatSainte-Marguerite，andtheHuguenot’sactisattributedtohim。
ThusDauger，notMattioli，isthecenterroundwhichthemythscrystallize：thelegendsconcernhim，notMattioli，whosecaseiswellknown，andgivesrisetonolegend。Finally，wehaveshownthatMattioliprobablydiedatSainte-MargueriteinApril，1694。
Ifso，thennobodybutDaugercanbethe“oldprisoner“whomSaint-
Marsbrought，masked，totheBastille，inSeptember，1698，andwhodiedthereinNovember，1703。HoweversupposethatMattiolididnotdiein1694，butwasthemaskedmanwhodiedintheBastillein1703，thenthelegendofDaugercametobeattributedtoMattioli：
thesetwomen’sfortunesarecombinedintheonemyth。
[1]Saint-MarsauMinistre，June4，1692。
Thecentralproblemremainsunsolved。
Whathadthevalet，EustacheDauger，done？[1]
[1]Onemarvelsthatnobodyhasrecognized，inthemask，JamesStuartJamesdelaCloche，eldestofthechildrenofCharlesII。
HecametoEnglandin1668，wassenttoRome，and“disappearsfromhistory。“Seeinfra，“TheMysteryofJamesdelaCloche。“
III
THEVALET’SMASTER
ThesecretoftheManintheIronMask，oratleastofoneofthetwopersonswhohaveclaimstobetheMask，was“WhathadEustacheDaugerdone？“Toguardthissecretthemostextraordinaryprecautionsweretaken，aswehaveshownintheforegoingessay。
Andyet，ifsecrettherewas，itmighthavegotwindinthesimplestfashion。Inthe“VicomtedeBragelonne，“DumasdescribesthetrystoftheSecret-hunterswiththedyingChiefoftheJesuitsattheinninFontainebleau。Theycomefrommanyquarters，thereisaBaronofGermanyandalairdfromScotland，butAramistakestheprize。HeknowsthesecretoftheMask，themostvaluableofalltotheintriguersoftheCompanyofJesus。
Now，despitealltheprecautionsofLouvoisandSaint-Mars，despitesentinelsforeverpostedunderDauger’swindows，despitearrangementswhichmadeitimpossibleforhimtosignaltopeopleonthehillsideatLesExiles，despitethesuppressionevenoftheitemsintheaccountsofhisexpenses，hissecret，ifheknewit，couldhavebeendiscovered，aswehaveremarked，bytheverymanmostapttomakemischievoususeofit——byLauzun。ThatbrilliantandrecklessadventurercouldseeDauger，inprisonatPignerol，whenhepleased，forhehadsecretlyexcavatedawayintotheroomsofhisfellowprisoner，Fouquet，onwhomDaugerattendedasvalet。
LauzunwasreleasedsoonafterFouquet’sdeath。Itisunlikelythatheboughthislibertybytheknowledgeofthesecretandthereisnothingtosuggestthatheuseditifhepossesseditinanyotherway。
ThenaturalclewtothesupposedsecretofDaugerisastudyofthecareerofhismaster，RouxdeMarsilly。Asofficialhistoriessaynexttonothingabouthim，wemaysetforthwhatcanbegleanedfromtheStatePapersinourRecordOffice。TheearliestisaletterofRouxdeMarsillytoMr。JosephWilliamson，secretaryofLordArlingtonDecember，1668。MarsillysendsMartinonourtheoryEustacheDaugertobringbackfromWilliamsontwolettersfromhisowncorrespondentinParis。HealsorequestsWilliamsontoprocureforhimfromArlingtonaletterofprotection，asheisthreatenedwitharrestforsomedebtinwhichheisnotreallyconcerned。Martinwillexplain。Thenextpaperisindorsed“ReceivedDecember28，1668，Mons。deMarsilly。“AsitisdatedDecember27，MarsillymusthavebeeninEngland。Thecontentsofthispiecedeserveattention，becausetheyshowthetermsonwhichMarsillyandArlingtonwere，or，atleast，howMarsillyconceivedthem。
1Marsillyreports，ontheauthorityofhisfriendsatStockholm，thattheKingofSwedenintends，firsttointercedewithLouisXIV。
infavoroftheFrenchHuguenots，andnext，ifdiplomacyfails，tojoininarmswiththeotherProtestantPowersofEurope。
2HiscorrespondentinHollandlearnsthatiftheKingofEnglandinvitestheStatestoany“holyresolution，“theywillheartilylendforces。NoleadersogoodastheEnglishKing——CharlesII。!
MarsillyhadshownARLINGTON’SLETTERtoaDutchfriend，whobadehimapproachtheDutchambassadorinEngland。Hehasdinedwiththatdiplomatist。Arlingtonhad，then，gonesofarastowriteanencouragingletter。TheDutchambassadorhadjusttoldMarsillythathehadreceivedthesamenews，namely，that，HollandwouldaidtheHuguenots，persecutedbyLouisXIV。
3LettersfromProvence，Languedoc，andDauphinesaythatthesituationthereisunaltered。
4TheCantonofZurichwritethattheywillkeeptheirpromisesandthatBerneisanxioustopleasetheKingofGreatBritain，andthatitisreadytoraise，withZurich，15，000men。TheyarenotafraidofFrance。
5Zurichfearsthat，ifCharlesisnotrepresentedatthenextDiet，BaleandSaintGallwillbeintimidated，andnotdaretojointheTripleAllianceofSpain，Holland，andEngland。ThebestplanwillbeforMarsillytorepresentEnglandattheDietofJanuary25，1669，accompaniedbytheSwissGeneralBalthazar。Thiswillencouragefriends“togiveHisBritannicMajestythesatisfactionwhichhedesires，andwillproduceacloseunionbetweenHolland，Sweden，theCantons，andotherProtestantStates。“
ThisreadsasifCharleshadalreadyexpressedsome“desire。“
6GenevagrumblesatareplyofCharles“throughabishopwhoistheirenemy，“theBishopofLondon，“apersecutorofourreligion，“
thatis，ofPresbyterianism。However，nothingwilldismaytheGenevans，“siS。M。B。nechange。“
Thencomesablankinthepaper。TherefollowsacopyofaletterasiffromCharlesII。himself，to“theRightHighandNobleSeigneursofZurich。“HehasheardoftheirwishesfromRouxdeMarsilly，whomhecommissionstowaituponthem。“IwouldnothavewrittenbymyBishopofLondonhadIbeenbetterinformed，butwouldmyselfhaverepliedtoyourobligingletter，andwouldhaveassuredyou，asIdonow，thatIdesire……“
ItappearsasifthiswereadraftofakindofletterwhichMarsillywantedCharlestowritetoZurich，andthereisasimilardraftofaletterforArlingtontofollow，ifheandCharleswishtosendMarsillytotheSwissDiet。TheDutchambassador，withwhomMarsillydinedonDecember26，theConstableofCastille，andothergrandees，areallofopinionthatheshouldvisittheProtestantSwiss，asfromtheKingofEngland。TheschemeisforanallianceofEngland，Holland，Spain，andtheProtestantCantons，againstFranceandSavoy。
AnotherletterofMarsillytoArlington，onlydatedJeudi，aversthathecanneverrepayArlingtonforhisextremekindnessandliberality。“NomaninEnglandismoredevotedtoyouthanIam，andshallbeallmylife。“[1]
[1]StatePapers，France，vol。125，106。
OntheverydaywhenMarsillydraftedforCharleshisowncommissiontotreatwithZurichforaProtestantallianceagainstFrance，Charleshimselfwrotetohissister，MadameHenrietted’Orleans。HespokeofhissecrettreatywithFrance。“Youknowhowmuchsecrecyisnecessaryforthecarryingonofthebusiness，andIassureyouthatnobodydoes，norshall，knowanythingofithere，butmyselfandthatonepersonmore，tillitbefittobepublic。“[1]Is“thatoneperson“delaCloche？
[1]Madame，byJuliaCartwright，p。275。
ThusMarsillythoughtCharlesalmostengagedfortheProtestantLeague，whileCharleswassecretlyallyinghimselfwithFranceagainstHolland。ArlingtonwasprobablynolessdeceivedbyCharlesthanMarsillywas。
TheBishopofLondon’sshareinthedealingwithZurichisobscure。
ItappearscertainthatArlingtonwasnotconsciouslydeceivingMarsilly。Madamewrote，onFebruary12，astoArlington，“Theman’sattachmenttotheDutchandhisinclinationtowardsSpainaretoowellknown。“[1]NottillApril25，1669，doesCharlestellhissisterthatArlingtonhasaninklingofhissecretdealingswithFrance；howheknows，Charlescannottell。[2]ItisimpossibleforustoascertainhowfarCharleshimselfdeludedMarsilly，whowenttotheContinentearlyinspring，1669。BeforeMay15-25，1669，infactonApril14，MarsillyhadbeenkidnapedbyagentsofLouisXIV。，andhisdoomwasdight。Hereistheaccountofthematter，writtento——byPerwichinParis：
[1]Ibid。，p。281。
[2]Ibid。，p。285。
“W。Perwichto——
“Paris，May25，’69。
“HonoredSir，“TheCantonsofSwitzerlandaremuchtroubledattheFrenchKing’shavingsentfifteenhorsemenintoSwitzerlandfromwhencetheSrdeManille，theKing’sresidentthere，hadgiveninformationoftheSrRouxdeMarsilly’sbeingtherenegotiatingthebringingtheCantonsintotheTripleLeaguebydiscoursesmuchtothedisadvantageofFrance，givingthemveryillimpressionsoftheFrenchKing’sGovernment，whowasbetrayedbyamonkthatkepthimcompanyandinterceptedbythesaidhorsemenbroughtintoFranceandisexpectedattheBastille。Ibelieveyouknowtheman……I
rememberhiminEngland。“
CanthismonkbethemonkwhowentmadinprisonatPignerol，sharingthecellofMattioli？Didhe，too，sufferforhisconnectionwiththesecret？Wedonotknow，butthepositionofCharleswasawkward。Marsilly，dealingwiththeSwiss，hadcomestraightfromEngland，wherehewasliewithCharles’sminister，Arlington，andwiththeDutchandSpanishambassadors。TheKingreferstothematterinalettertohissisterofMay24，1669
misdatedbyMissCartwright，May24，1668。[1]
[1]Madame，byJuliaCartwright，p。264。
“Youhave，Ihope，receivedfullsatisfactionbythelastpostinthematterofMarsillac[Marsilly]，formyLd。ArlingtonhassenttoMr。Montague[EnglishambassadoratParis]hishistoryallthetimehewashere，bywhichyouwillseehowlittlecredithehadhere，andthatparticularlymyLordArlingtonwasnotinhisgoodgraces，becausehedidnotreceivethatsatisfaction，inhisnegotiation，heexpected，andthatwasonlyinrelationtotheSwissers，andsoIthinkIhavesaidenoughofthismatter。“
Charlestookiteasily!
OnMay15/25MontagueacknowledgedArlington’slettertowhichCharlesrefers；hehasbeenapproached，astoMarsilly，bytheSpanishresident，“butIcouldnottellhowtodoanythinginthebusiness，neverhavingheardoftheman，orthathewasemployedbymyMaster[Charles]inanybusiness。IhavesentyoualsoacopyofaletterwhichanEnglishmanwrittomethatIdonotknow，inbehalfofRouxdeMarsilly，butthatdoesnotcomebythepost，“
beingtoosecret。[1]
[1]StatePapers，France，vol。126。
Francehadbeenwell-informedaboutMarsillywhilehewasinEngland。Hethenhadasecretary，twolackeys，andavaletdechambre，andwasfrequentlyinconferencewithArlingtonandtheSpanishambassadortotheEnglishCourt。Colbert，theFrenchambassadorinLondon，hadwrittenallthistotheFrenchGovernment，onApril25，beforeheheardofMarsilly’sarrest。[1]
[1]Bibl。Nat。，Fonds。Francais，No。10665。
ThebeliefthatMarsillywasanagentofCharlesappearstohavebeengeneral，and，ifacceptedbyLouisXIV。，wouldinterferewithCharles’sprivatenegotiationsfortheSecretTreatywithFrance。