 Pagnol observes, however, that his evasive responses suggest that he knew the secret.Eventually he would answer Madame de Pompadour and say he was the ""secretary of an Italian Prince…"" thus referring to Matthioli.Pagnol asserts that he was in fact repeating the "fable" skilfully prepared by Louvois and Barbezieux, knowing perfectly well that it was a lie, as shown by his long silence, particularly toward his own son.