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"Sir," said Franz, "I have one request to make"

"What is it?"

"I wish Albert de Morcerf and Raoul de Chateau-Renaud to be present at this signature; you know they are my witnesses"

"Half an hour will suffice to apprise theo for the, sir"

"I shall expect you, then, in half an hour, baron, and Valentine will be ready" Franz bowed and left the room Scarcely had the door closed, when M de Villefort sent to tell Valentine to be ready in the drawing-room in half an hour, as he expected the notary and M d'Epinay and his witnesses The news caused a great sensation throughout the house; Madame de Villefort would not believe it, and Valentine was thunderstruck She looked around for help, and would have gone down to her grandfather's room, but on the stairs she met M de Villefort, who took her ar-room In the anterooly at the old servant A -room with her little Edward It was evident that she had shared the grief of the faued She sat down, took Edward on her knees, and from time to time pressed this child, on whom her affections appeared centred, ales were soon heard to enter the court yard One was the notary's; the other, that of Franz and his friends In a moment the whole party was asseht trace the blue veins from her temples, round her eyes and down her cheeks Franz was deeply affected Chateau-Renaud and Albert looked at each other with amazement; the ceremony which was just concluded had not appeared in Madame de Villefort had placed herself in the shadow behind a velvet curtain, and as she constantly bent over her child, it was difficult to read the expression of her face M de Villefort was, as usual, un to the custoed the papers on the table, taken his place in an armchair, and raised his spectacles, turned towards Franz: "Are you M Franz de Quesnel, baron d'Epinay?" asked he, although he knew it perfectly

"Yes, sir," replied Franz The notary bowed "I have, then, to inform you, sir, at the request of M de Villefort, that your projected ed the feeling of M Noirtier towards his grandchild, and that he disinherits her entirely of the fortune he would have left her Letonly the right to alienate a part of his fortune, and having alienated it all, the ill not bear scrutiny, and is declared null and void"