[367] As M. Chéruel has remarked (_Mémoires sur Nicolas Fouquet_, vol. ii. p. 173, note 3) the letter which is relied on in order to support this allegation is far from authentic. It has been transcribed in the _Manuscrits Conrart_ (vol. xi. folio, p. 152), with many other letters “which are said to have been found in Fouquet’s casket.” But we know what took place with reference to this famous casket. Greedy of scandal, and not finding sufficient in the real letters which were published at that time, the courtiers invented a very great number, attributing them to ladies of the court, whose names they gave. They were collected with care, in the papers of Conrart and Vallant, and have thus been handed down to us: (Manuscripts of the Arsenal for the _Papiers de Conrart_ and of the Imperial Library for those of Vallant). Such was the publicity given to these letters, that at the commencement of the trial the Chancellor Séguier thought it his duty to declare to the court that they were forgeries: See M. Chéruel’s work already referred to, vol. ii. p. 289, _et seq._, and M. Feuillet de Conches’ _Causeries d’un Curieux_, vol. ii. p. 518, _et seq._ [368] “Do not fear that he will escape,” said they at Angers to D’Artagnan: “we will strangle him first:”--_Journal d’Olivier d’Ormesson_, published by M. Chéruel in the _Collection des Documents Inédits sur l’Histoire de France_, vol. ii. p. 99. The same hatred manifested itself at Tours, whence it was necessary to set out with Fouquet at three o’clock in the morning to escape the threats of the people. At Saint-Mandé and Vincennes it was the same: _Récit Officiel de l’Arrestation de Fouquet_, by the Registrar Joseph Foucault:--Imperial Library, Manuscripts, No. 235-245 of the 500 of Colbert. [369] _Mémoires sur Nicolas Fouquet_, vol. ii. p. 386. [370] So Madame de Motteville terms it in her _Mémoires_. [371] _Mémoires de Choisy_, p. 189. [372] The office was sold in 1661 to M. de Harlay. See on the subject of the reports of this sale, _Lettres de Guy-Patin_, July 12 and 15, 1661. [373] _Mémoires de Brienne_, vol. ii. p. 178. [374] Order of arrest given to D’Artagnan, with the memorandum published by Ravaisson in his _Archives de la Bastille_, vol. i. p. 347-351: Letters of the Marquis de Coislin to the Chancellor Séguier, September 5, 1661:--_Ibid._ p. 351-355. [375] _Procès-verbal_ of the Registrar Foucault, already referred to; _Mémoires de Brienne_; _Mémoires de l’Abbé de Choisy_. [376] The Marquis de Gesvres, whom Louis XIV. did not dare to entrust with the mission of arresting Fouquet. [377] _Défenses de Fouquet_, vol. iii. p. 357. Edition of 1665. [378] _Mémoires sur Nicolas Fouquet_, vol. i. p. 398. [379] This is the title which Fouquet’s friends gave to this province.