Editing Great Cipher (section)

=== The Man in the Iron Mask ===
{{Main article|Man in the Iron Mask}}
In one of the encrypted letters between Louis XIV and his marshal [[Nicolas de Catinat]] appeared a possible solution to the mystery of the [[Man in the Iron Mask]].<ref>Kahn, 2005, p. 45</ref> The letter concerned a general named [[Vivien de Bulonde]] who was to attack the [[Italy|Italian]] town of [[Cuneo]] but instead fled, fearing the arrival of the [[Austria]]ns, and consequently put in serious danger the success of the entire French campaign in [[Piedmont]]. The letter said:

<blockquote>His Majesty knows better than any other person the consequences of this act, and he is also aware of how deeply our failure to take the place will prejudice our cause, a failure which must be repaired during the winter. His Majesty desires that you immediately arrest General Bulonde and cause him to be conducted to the fortress of Pignerole, where he will be locked in a cell under guard at night, and permitted to walk the battlement during the day with a 330 309.</blockquote>

The "330" and "309" codegroups appeared only once in the correspondence, so it is impossible to confirm what they stand for. Bazeries verified General Bulonde was disgraced and removed from command, so he reasoned 330 and 309 stood for ''masque'' and a full stop.<ref>Kahn 2005, p. 45</ref> However, none of the cipher variants used in the Iron Mask period included ''masque'', an unlikely word to include in the cipher's small repertory.<ref>Kahn 2005, p. 46</ref>