Bastille; Latude, Henri Masers de, 1725-1805; Mattioli, Ercole Antonio, conte, 1640-1703
Binguet, the apothecary, had been set at liberty immediately after
Danry's declaration of June 15. In the Bastille, Danry was treated with
the utmost consideration, in accordance with the formal instructions of
Berryer. He was provided with books, tobacco, and a pipe; he was
permitted to play on the flute; and having declared that a solitary life
bored him, he was given two room mates. Every day he was visited by the
officers of the fortress, and on May 25 the governor came to tell him of
the magistrate's order: "That the utmost attention was to be shown him;
if he needed anything he was to be requested to say so, and was to be
allowed to want for nothing." No doubt the lieutenant of police hoped,
by dint of kindness, to persuade him to disclose the authors of the
unfortunate plot which was the figment of his imagination.
Danry did not remain long in the prison of the Suburb Saint-Antoine; on
July 28 Saint-Marc transferred him to Vincennes, and we see from the
report drawn up by the detective with what astonishment the Marquis du
Châtelet, governor of the fortress, heard "that the court had resolved
to send him such a fellow." Vincennes, like the Bastille, was reserved
for prisoners of good position; our hero was sent there by special
favour, as he was told for his consolation by the surgeon who attended
him: "Only persons of noble birth or the highest distinction are sent to
Vincennes." Danry was indeed treated like a lord. The best apartment was
reserved for him, and he was able to enjoy the park, where he walked for
two hours every day. At the time of his admission to the Bastille, he
was suffering from some sort of indisposition which later on he ascribed
to his long confinement. At Vincennes he complained of the same illness,
with the same plea that his troubles had made him ill. He was attended
by a specialist as well as by the surgeon of the prison.
Meantime the lieutenant came again to see him, reiterating assurances of
his protection, and advising him to write direct to Madame de Pompadour.
Here is what Danry wrote:--
"VINCENNES, _November 4, 1749_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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