At the time of the famous Fouquet letter concerning Poussin, the complex of Notre Dame de Marceille was owned by Fouquet`s brother, this area was the secret that the secret society had kept hidden for centuries. Poussin was also a member of this society, an honor usually reserved for priests. The letter about him referred to something hidden that could be used to make money. Two centuries later, Marie Denaurnaud, companion to Beranger Sauniere, hinted to the buyer of the Villa Bethania after Sauniere`s death that she would relate to him her secret which he could employ to make himself a fortune. She hinted that he was walking upon hidden wealth.

Both of these inferences imply an ancient craft, the ability to turn lead into gold - the art of Alchemy! Some authors credit Sauniere with knowing magic which is essentially of an alchemical nature. Pierre Plantard once said that Saint Vincent de Paul was never really kidnapped by Arab pirates but was really at Marceille learning alchemy with "Jean the Alchemist" in the castle of Barbarie known as "The Occult Bastion of France." Louis XIV had that castle dismantled in 1659 on an order from Cardinal Mazarin.

References to alchemy abound in the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau Was Marie covering the source of Sauniere`s income by making a reference to alchemy? It would seem so.

As a footnote, Fouquet was arrested and sequestered by King Louis soon after he wrote his infamous letter. Some say that it was because Fouquet knew another secret, the rumor that the father of Louis XIV was not Louis XIII. Fouquet and the mother of King Louis were said to be confederate against the king, this would account for Fouquet`s imprisonment for life by Louis not long after.

Next time: "Sauniere and Lovely Limoux, the Secret Vaults."

Reference: "Berenger Sauniere and the Secret Vault - Notre Dame de Marceille" by Philip Coppens and Andre Douzet. Frontier Press 2006.