IRON MASK. 215 



of Brinvilliers. On examining the effects of Sainte Croix, 

 a box was found addressed to Madame de Brinvilliers, but 

 which was opened, and found to contain a collection of 

 poisons. The whole tissue of their crimes was discovered; 

 the Marquise was tried and condemned to be beheaded, her 

 body burned, and her ashes scattered in the wind. This sen- 

 tence was executed in 1676; but these poisonings continuing 

 in Paris, even after her death, the Chambre ardent was estab- 

 lished in 1699, to inquire into the matter. Many were 

 accused, but the most notorious of the culprits was a woman 

 of the name of Voisin. She was punished with death; but 

 the public mind continued for a long time to be disturbed with 

 ideas of poison, and many natural deaths were doubtless 

 attributed to violence and poison.* Now I have finished this 

 frightful history of crime, let us hear, Henrietta, what you 

 have to tell us about the Iron Mask. 



HENRIETTA. 



I do not think, aunt, that I know much about it, except that 

 a person so called was confined in the Bastile by Louis XIV, 

 and that he always wore an iron mask, and no one ever could 

 find out who he was. 



MRS. F. 



That is pretty nearly all that is known about this singular 

 individual, who has given rise to various conjectures respect- 

 ing him, some imagining him to be of royal birth, others 

 merely supposing him to have been a state prisoner. Who 

 he was will probably ever remain a mystery, but he will al- 

 ways excite the greatest interest, and a curiosity perhaps the 

 more lively, from the little probability there exists of its ever 

 being satisfied. We will read more about him this evening; 

 but in the meantime, I must set you right upon the common 

 error respecting the mask which he wore. It was made not of 

 iron, but of velvet, and the chin part was furnished with steel 



* See Mme. de Sevigne, Causes celebres, Biographic Universelle. 

 The account of the first must be received with caution, and due 

 allowances made for the excitement of the time. 



