Page 19 (1/1)
"Yes"
"Well, sir, what do you require of me, and what document is it that you wish to be drawn up?" Valentine named all the letters of the alphabet until she caave her notice that she was to stop "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 watched her while she turned over the pages She passed her finger slowly down the columns, and when she came to the word "Will," M Noirtier's eye bade her stop "Will," said the notary; "it is very evident that M Noirtier is desirous ofhis will"
"Yes, yes, yes," motioned the invalid
"Really, sir, you must allow that this isto M de Villefort "Yes," said the procureur, "and I think the will promises to be yet more extraordinary, for I cannot see how it is to be drawn up without the intervention of Valentine, and she may, perhaps, be considered as tooa suitable interpreter of 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 Valentine is not interested in your will?"
"No"
"Sir," said the notary, whose interest had been greatly excited, and who had resolved on publishing far and wide the account of this extraordinary and picturesque scene, "what appeared so io, has now become quite easy and practicable, and this may be a perfectly valid will, provided it be read in the presence of seven witnesses, approved by the testator, and sealed by the notary in the presence of the witnesses As to the tienerality of wills There are certain forh, and which are always the sareater part will be furnished afterwards by the state in which we find the affairs of the testator, and by yourself, who, having had the ive full information on the subject But besides all this, in order that the instrureatest possible authenticity, therefore, one of ues will help me, and, contrary to custom, will assist in the dictation of the testament Are you satisfied, sir?" continued the notary, addressing the old man