With regard to the Sieur de Lestang, I wonder at your patience, and that you should wait for an order to treat such a rascal as he deserves, when he is wanting in respect to you. Send me word how it has happened that the individual named Eustache has been able to do what you have sent me word of, and where he got the drugs necessary for the purpose, as I cannot think you would have furnished them to him. DE LOUVOIS.[305] [305] From the Archives of France. No. 104. LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. Philippeville, August 16th, 1680. I HAVE been made acquainted, by your letter of the 7th of this month, with the proposal you make of placing the Sieur de Lestang with the Jacobin Monk, in order to avoid the necessity of having two priests. The King approves of your project, and you have only to execute it when you please. DE LOUVOIS.[306] [306] Ibid. No. 105. SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. Matthioli and the Jacobin placed together. September 7th, 1680. SINCE you, Sir, permitted me to put Matthioli with the Jacobin in the lower part of the tower, the aforesaid Matthioli was for four or five days in the belief that the Jacobin was a man that I had placed with him to watch his actions. Matthioli, who is almost as mad as the Jacobin, walked about with long strides, with his cloak over his nose, crying out that he was not a dupe, but that he knew more than he would say. The Jacobin, who was always seated on his truckle bed, with his elbows resting upon his knees, looked at him gravely, without listening to him. The Signor Matthioli remained always persuaded that it was a spy that had been placed with him, till he was one day disabused, by the Jacobin’s getting down from his bed, stark naked, and setting himself to preach, without rhyme or reason, till he was tired. I and my lieutenants saw all their manoeuvres through a hole over the door. DE SAINT-MARS.[307] [307] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). No. 106. SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. October 9th, 1680. I HAVE only further, Sir, to acquaint you with the circumstance of the Sieur Matthioli’s having given a ring to Blainvilliers, who immediately delivered it to me. I will keep it, till it shall please you, Sir, to give me orders what to do with it. I am, &c. DE SAINT-MARS.[308] [308] Ibid. No. 107. SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. Particulars respecting the Ring given by Matthioli to Blainvilliers. October 26th, 1680.