As soon as Barrois had left the room, Noirtier looked atValentine with a malicious expression that said many things.The young girl perfectly understood the look, and so didVillefort, for his countenance became clouded, and heknitted his eyebrows angrily. He took a seat, and quietlyawaited the arrival of the notary. Noirtier saw him seathimself with an appearance of perfect indifference, at thesame time giving a side look at Valentine, which made herunderstand that she also was to remain in the room.Three-quarters of an hour after, Barrois returned, bringingthe notary with him. "Sir," said Villefort, after the firstsalutations were over, "you were sent for by M. Noirtier,whom you see here. All his limbs have become completelyparalysed, he has lost his voice also, and we ourselves findmuch trouble in endeavoring to catch some fragments of hismeaning." Noirtier cast an appealing look on Valentine,which look was at once so earnest and imperative, that sheanswered immediately. "Sir," said she, "I perfectlyunderstand my grandfather's meaning at all times."

"That is quite true," said Barrois; "and that is what I toldthe gentleman as we walked along."

"Permit me," said the notary, turning first to Villefort andthen to Valentine - "permit me to state that the case inquestion is just one of those in which a public officer likemyself cannot proceed to act without thereby incurring adangerous responsibility. The first thing necessary torender an act valid is, that the notary should be thoroughlyconvinced that he has faithfully interpreted the will andwishes of the person dictating the act. Now I cannot be sureof the approbation or disapprobation of a client who cannotspeak, and as the object of his desire or his repugnancecannot be clearly proved to me, on account of his want ofspeech, my services here would be quite useless, and cannotbe legally exercised." The notary then prepared to retire.An imperceptible smile of triumph was expressed on the lipsof the procureur. Noirtier looked at Valentine with anexpression so full of grief, that she arrested the departureof the notary. "Sir," said she, "the language which I speakwith my grandfather may be easily learnt, and I can teachyou in a few minutes, to understand it almost as well as Ican myself. Will you tell me what you require, in order toset your conscience quite at ease on the subject?"

"In order to render an act valid, I must be certain of theapprobation or disapprobation of my client. Illness of bodywould not affect the validity of the deed, but sanity ofmind is absolutely requisite."

"Well, sir, by the help of two signs, with which I willacquaint you presently, you may ascertain with perfectcertainty that my grandfather is still in the fullpossession of all his mental faculties. M. Noirtier, beingdeprived of voice and motion, is accustomed to convey hismeaning by closing his eyes when he wishes to signify `yes,'and to wink when he means `no.' You now know quite enough toenable you to converse with M. Noirtier; - try." Noirtiergave Valentine such a look of tenderness and gratitude thatit was comprehended even by the notary himself. "You haveheard and understood what your granddaughter has beensaying, sir, have you?" asked the notary. Noirtier closedhis eyes. "And you approve of what she said - that is tosay, you declare that the signs which she mentioned arereally those by means of which you are accustomed to conveyyour thoughts?"

"Yes."

"It was you who sent for me?"

"Yes."

"To make your will?"

"Yes."

"And you do not wish me to go away without fulfilling youroriginal intentions?" The old man winked violently. "Well,sir," said the young girl, "do you understand now, and isyour conscience perfectly at rest on the subject?" Butbefore the notary could answer, Villefort had drawn himaside. "Sir," said he, "do you suppose for a moment that aman can sustain a physical shock, such as M. Noirtier hasreceived, without any detriment to his mental faculties?"

"It is not exactly that, sir," said the notary, "which makesme uneasy, but the difficulty will be in wording histhoughts and intentions, so as to be able to get hisanswers."

"You must see that to be an utter impossibility," saidVillefort. Valentine and the old man heard thisconversation, and Noirtier fixed his eye so earnestly onValentine that she felt bound to answer to the look.

"Sir," said she, "that need not make you uneasy, howeverdifficult it may at first sight appear to be. I can discoverand explain to you my grandfather's thoughts, so as to putan end to all your doubts and fears on the subject. I havenow been six years with M. Noirtier, and let him tell you ifever once, during that time, he has entertained a thoughtwhich he was unable to make me understand."

"No," signed the old man.

"Let us try what we can do, then," said the notary. "Youaccept this young lady as your interpreter, M. Noirtier?"

"Yes."

"Well, sir, what do you require of me, and what document isit that you wish to be drawn up?" Valentine named all theletters of the alphabet until she came to W. At this letterthe eloquent eye of Noirtier gave her notice that she was tostop. "It is very evident that it is the letter W which M.Noirtier wants," said the notary. "Wait," said Valentine;and, turning to her grandfather, she repeated, "Wa - We - Wi" - The old man stopped her at the last syllable.Valentine then took the dictionary, and the notary watchedher while she turned over the pages. She passed her fingerslowly down the columns, and when she came to the word"Will," M. Noirtier's eye bade her stop. "Will," said thenotary; "it is very evident that M. Noirtier is desirous ofmaking his will."

"Yes, yes, yes," motioned the invalid.

"Really, sir, you must allow that this is mostextraordinary," said the astonished notary, turning to M. deVillefort. "Yes," said the procureur, "and I think the willpromises to be yet more extraordinary, for I cannot see howit is to be drawn up without the intervention of Valentine,and she may, perhaps, be considered as too much interestedin its contents to allow of her being a suitable interpreterof the obscure and ill-defined wishes of her grandfather."

"No, no, no," replied the eye of the paralytic.

"What?" said Villefort, "do you mean to say that Valentineis not interested in your will?"

"No."

"Sir," said the notary, whose interest had been greatlyexcited, and who had resolved on publishing far and wide theaccount of this extraordinary and picturesque scene, "whatappeared so impossible to me an hour ago, has now becomequite easy and practicable, and this may be a perfectlyvalid will, provided it be read in the presence of sevenwitnesses, approved by the testator, and sealed by thenotary in the presence of the witnesses. As to the time, itwill not require very much more than the generality ofwills. There are certain forms necessary to be gone through,and which are always the same. As to the details, thegreater part will be furnished afterwards by the state inwhich we find the affairs of the testator, and by yourself,who, having had the management of them, can doubtless givefull information on the subject. But besides all this, inorder that the instrument may not be contested, I am anxiousto give it the greatest possible authenticity, therefore,one of my colleagues will help me, and, contrary to custom,will assist in the dictation of the testament. Are yousatisfied, sir?" continued the notary, addressing the oldman.

"Yes," looked the invalid, his eye beaming with delight atthe ready interpretation of his meaning.

"What is he going to do?" thought Villefort, whose positiondemanded much reserve, but who was longing to know what hisfather's intentions were. He left the room to give ordersfor another notary to be sent, but Barrois, who had heardall that passed, had guessed his master's wishes, and hadalready gone to fetch one. The procureur then told his wifeto come up. In the course of a quarter of an hour every onehad assembled in the chamber of the paralytic; the secondnotary had also arrived. A few words sufficed for a mutualunderstanding between the two officers of the law. They readto Noirtier the formal copy of a will, in order to give himan idea of the terms in which such documents are generallycouched; then, in order to test the capacity of thetestator, the first notary said, turning towards him, - "When an individual makes his will, it is generally in favoror in prejudice of some person."

"Yes."

"Have you an exact idea of the amount of your fortune?"

"Yes."

"I will name to you several sums which will increase bygradation; you will stop me when I reach the onerepresenting the amount of your own possessions?"

"Yes." There was a kind of solemnity in this interrogation.Never had the struggle between mind and matter been moreapparent than now, and if it was not a sublime, it was, atleast, a curious spectacle. They had formed a circle roundthe invalid; the second notary was sitting at a table,prepared for writing, and his colleague was standing beforethe testator in the act of interrogating him on the subjectto which we have alluded. "Your fortune exceeds 300,000francs, does it not?" asked he. Noirtier made a sign that itdid. "Do you possess 400,000 francs?" inquired the notary.Noirtier's eye remained immovable. "Five hundred thousand?"The same expression continued. "Six hundred thousand - 700,000 - 800,000 - 900,000?" Noirtier stopped him at thelast-named sum. "You are then in possession of 900,000francs?" asked the notary. "Yes."

"In landed property?"

"No."

"In stock?"

"Yes."

"The stock is in your own hands?" The look which M. Noirtiercast on Barrois showed that there was something wantingwhich he knew where to find. The old servant left the room,and presently returned, bringing with him a small casket."Do you permit us to open this casket?" asked the notary.Noirtier gave his assent. They opened it, and found 900,000francs in bank scrip. The first notary handed over eachnote, as he examined it, to his colleague.

The total amount was found to be as M. Noirtier had stated."It is all as he has said; it is very evident that the mindstill retains its full force and vigor." Then, turningtowards the paralytic, he said, "You possess, then, 900,000francs of capital, which, according to the manner in whichyou have invested it, ought to bring in an income of about40,000 livres?"

"Yes."

"To whom do you desire to leave this fortune?"

"Oh," said Madame de Villefort, "there is not much doubt onthat subject. M. Noirtier tenderly loves his granddaughter,Mademoiselle de Villefort; it is she who has nursed andtended him for six years, and has, by her devoted attention,fully secured the affection, I had almost said thegratitude, of her grandfather, and it is but just that sheshould reap the fruit of her devotion." The eye of Noirtierclearly showed by its expression that he was not deceived bythe false assent given by Madame de Villefort's words andmanner to the motives which she supposed him to entertain."Is it, then, to Mademoiselle Valentine de Villefort thatyou leave these 900,000 francs?" demanded the notary,thinking he had only to insert this clause, but waitingfirst for the assent of Noirtier, which it was necessaryshould be given before all the witnesses of this singularscene. Valentine, when her name was made the subject ofdiscussion, had stepped back, to escape unpleasantobservation; her eyes were cast down, and she was crying.The old man looked at her for an instant with an expressionof the deepest tenderness, then, turning towards the notary,he significantly winked his eye in token of dissent.

"What," said the notary, "do you not intend makingMademoiselle Valentine de Villefort your residuary legatee?"

"No."

"You are not making any mistake, are you?" said the notary;"you really mean to declare that such is not yourintention?"

"No," repeated Noirtier; "No." Valentine raised her head,struck dumb with astonishment. It was not so much theconviction that she was disinherited that caused her grief,but her total inability to account for the feelings whichhad provoked her grandfather to such an act. But Noirtierlooked at her with so much affectionate tenderness that sheexclaimed, "Oh, grandpapa, I see now that it is only yourfortune of which you deprive me; you still leave me the lovewhich I have always enjoyed."

"Ah, yes, most assuredly," said the eyes of the paralytic,for he closed them with an expression which Valentine couldnot mistake. "Thank you, thank you," murmured she. The oldman's declaration that Valentine was not the destinedinheritor of his fortune had excited the hopes of Madame deVillefort; she gradually approached the invalid, and said:"Then, doubtless, dear M. Noirtier, you intend leaving yourfortune to your grandson, Edward de Villefort?" The winkingof the eyes which answered this speech was most decided andterrible, and expressed a feeling almost amounting tohatred.

"No?" said the notary; "then, perhaps, it is to your son, M.de Villefort?"

"No." The two notaries looked at each other in muteastonishment and inquiry as to what were the real intentionsof the testator. Villefort and his wife both grew red, onefrom shame, the other from anger.

"What have we all done, then, dear grandpapa?" saidValentine; "you no longer seem to love any of us?" The oldman's eyes passed rapidly from Villefort and his wife, andrested on Valentine with a look of unutterable fondness."Well," said she; "if you love me, grandpapa, try and bringthat love to bear upon your actions at this present moment.You know me well enough to be quite sure that I have neverthought of your fortune; besides, they say I am already richin right of my mother - too rich, even. Explain yourself,then." Noirtier fixed his intelligent eyes on Valentine'shand. "My hand?" said she.

"Yes."

"Her hand!" exclaimed every one.

"Oh, gentlemen, you see it is all useless, and that myfather's mind is really impaired," said Villefort.

"Ah," cried Valentine suddenly, "I understand. It is mymarriage you mean, is it not, dear grandpapa?"

"Yes, yes, yes," signed the paralytic, casting on Valentinea look of joyful gratitude for having guessed his meaning.

"You are angry with us all on account of this marriage, areyou not?"

"Yes?"

"Really, this is too absurd," said Villefort.

"Excuse me, sir," replied the notary; "on the contrary, themeaning of M. Noirtier is quite evident to me, and I canquite easily connect the train of ideas passing in hismind."

"You do not wish me to marry M. Franz d'Epinay?" observedValentine.

"I do not wish it," said the eye of her grandfather. "Andyou disinherit your granddaughter," continued the notary,"because she has contracted an engagement contrary to yourwishes?"

"Yes."

"So that, but for this marriage, she would have been yourheir?"

"Yes." There was a profound silence. The two notaries wereholding a consultation as to the best means of proceedingwith the affair. Valentine was looking at her grandfatherwith a smile of intense gratitude, and Villefort was bitinghis lips with vexation, while Madame de Villefort could notsucceed in repressing an inward feeling of joy, which, inspite of herself, appeared in her whole countenance. "But,"said Villefort, who was the first to break the silence, "Iconsider that I am the best judge of the propriety of themarriage in question. I am the only person possessing theright to dispose of my daughter's hand. It is my wish thatshe should marry M. Franz d'Epinay - and she shall marryhim." Valentine sank weeping into a chair.

"Sir," said the notary, "how do you intend disposing of yourfortune in case Mademoiselle de Villefort still determineson marrying M. Franz?" The old man gave no answer. "Youwill, of course, dispose of it in some way or other?"

"Yes."

"In favor of some member of your family?"

"No."

"Do you intend devoting it to charitable purposes, then?"pursued the notary.

"Yes."

"But," said the notary, "you are aware that the law does notallow a son to be entirely deprived of his patrimony?"

"Yes."

"You only intend, then, to dispose of that part of yourfortune which the law allows you to subtract from theinheritance of your son?" Noirtier made no answer. "Do youstill wish to dispose of all?"

"Yes."

"But they will contest the will after your death?"

"No."

"My father knows me," replied Villefort; "he is quite surethat his wishes will be held sacred by me; besides, heunderstands that in my position I cannot plead against thepoor." The eye of Noirtier beamed with triumph. "What do youdecide on, sir?" asked the notary of Villefort.

"Nothing, sir; it is a resolution which my father has takenand I know he never alters his mind. I am quite resigned.These 900,000 francs will go out of the family in order toenrich some hospital; but it is ridiculous thus to yield tothe caprices of an old man, and I shall, therefore, actaccording to my conscience." Having said this, Villefortquitted the room with his wife, leaving his father atliberty to do as he pleased. The same day the will was made,the witnesses were brought, it was approved by the old man,sealed in the presence of all and given in charge to M.Deschamps, the family notary.