It is therefore to Catinat that reference is made in the despatch of September 20, 1681, to Catinat, the last of the prisoners whom Saint-Mars still had in his care, for, since the month of June, Matthioly had been confided to Villebois, and the two prisoners left to Saint-Mars were two “crows,” whom no doubt he had already taken to Exiles. It is to Catinat that he refers, and this despatch can no longer be made to serve as a pretext for the theory according to which a new prisoner was arrested by Catinat in 1681. [587] Saint-Mars was now at the Isles Sainte-Marguerite. [588] This and the three preceding despatches are from Louvois to Saint-Mars, and are to be found in the Archives of the Ministry of War. [589] The “crow” taken by Saint-Mars to the Islands was undoubtedly the Jacobin monk, as is proved by the following despatch from Barbézieux to Saint-Mars: “Versailles, August 13, 1691--Your letter of the 26th of last month has been handed to me. When you have anything to inform me concerning the prisoner who has been in your charge for the last twenty years, I beg you to adopt the same precautions as you made use of when communicating with M. de Louvois.” Twenty years is undoubtedly a round number, and the Jacobin monk, imprisoned since 1674, had then suffered seventeen years of captivity. A great deal of importance has been ascribed to this despatch, because it was one of the very few belonging to this period which were known to exist. We have just seen, however, that its value is very much diminished by comparison with the other letters which we have transcribed. The recommendation that Barbézieux gives in it is purely a matter of form, and similar injunctions were transmitted to Villebois and afterwards to Laprade, when charged with the care of Matthioly. [590] Unpublished despatch from Barbézieux to Saint-Mars, February 26, 1694:--Archives of the Ministry of War. [591] Unpublished despatch from Barbézieux to Saint-Mars, March 20, 1694:--_Ibid._ [592] “The King charges you that no one but yourself shall give them to eat, as you have done since they were confided to your care;”--Unpublished despatch from Barbézieux to Laprade, who, on the death of Villebois, succeeded to the governorship of the donjon of Pignerol. CHAPTER XXIII. Behaviour of Charles IV., Duke of Mantua, towards his ex-Minister--His true Sentiments with reference to him--Precautions prescribed to Villebois and Laprade for the Prisoners left by Saint-Mars at Pignerol.--Change in Louis XIV.’s Position in Italy--Transfer of the Pignerol Prisoners to the Isles Sainte-Marguerite--Instructions given to Marshal de Tessé--Increase of Saint-Mars’ Watchfulness--Mystery surrounding the three Prisoners--Great Importance of one of them compared with the others--It is he who was the Man with the Iron Mask.