The Man In The Iron Mask

As Fouquet travels to Nantes, he hires a lighter to transport him and his company down the river. As they sail, his crew spots a larger vessel approaching them, and Fouquet suspects it is Colbert’s ship. Colbert’s lighter is in close pursuit, despite Fouquet’s efforts to slow it down or confuse its crew. When they land at Nantes, Fouquet subtly mocks Colbert for not passing him and for arriving after him despite having 12 rowers on his lighter (Fouquet had only eight). Fouquet takes a carriage up to the castle at Nantes. D’Artagnan and the musketeers arrive; he secures posts for them throughout the castle, and then he makes his way to visit Fouquet.

Fouquet thinks D’Artagnan is there to arrest him again, but D’Artagnan assures him that is not the purpose of his visit that evening. D’Artagnan lists the number of musketeers he was ordered to bring, and he also discloses to Fouquet that he has another order to be enacted after the king arrives: no carriage, boat, or horse is to leave Nantes without the king’s written permission. D’Artagnan subtly suggests that Fouquet flee to Belle-Isle before the king arrives and all travel is cut off.