The stock is in your own hands?

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"The stock is in your own hands?" The look which M. Noirtiercast on Barrois showed that there was something wanting which he knew where tofind. The old servant left the room, and presently returned, bringing with hima small casket. "Do you permit us to open this casket?" asked thenotary. Noirtier gave his assent. They opened it, and found 900,000 francs inbank scrip. The first notary handed over each note, as he examined it, to hiscolleague. The total amount was found to be as M. Noirtier had stated. "Itis all as he has said; it is very evident that the mind still retains its fullforce and vigor." Then, turning towards the paralytic, he said, "Youpossess, then, 900,000 francs of capital, which, according to the manner inwhich you have invested it, ought to bring in an income of about 40,000 livres?""Yes." "To whom do you desire to leave this fortune?" "Oh,"said Madame de Villefort, "there is not much doubt on that subject. M.Noirtier tenderly loves his granddaughter, Mademoiselle de Villefort; it is shewho has nursed and tended him for six years, and has, by her devoted attention,fully secured the affection, I had almost said the gratitude, of hergrandfather, and it is but just that she should reap the fruit of herdevotion." The eye of Noirtier clearly showed by its expression that hewas not deceived by the 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 that you leave these 900,000francs?" demanded the notary, thinking he had only to insert this clause,but waiting first for the assent of Noirtier, which it was necessary should begiven before all the witnesses of this singular scene. Valentine, when her namewas made the subject of discussion, had stepped back, to escape unpleasantobservation; her eyes were cast down, and she was crying. The old man looked ather for an instant with an expression of the deepest tenderness, then, turningtowards the notary, he significantly winked his eye in token of dissent. "What,"said the notary, "do you not intend making Mademoiselle Valentine de Villefortyour residuary legatee?" "No." "You are not making anymistake, are you?" said the notary; "you really mean to declare thatsuch is not your intention?" "No," repeated Noirtier;"No." Valentine raised her head, struck dumb with astonishment. Itwas not so much the conviction that she was disinherited that caused her grief,but her total inability to account for the feelings which had provoked hergrandfather to such an act. But Noirtier looked at her with so muchaffectionate tenderness that she exclaimed, "Oh, grandpapa, I see now thatit is only your fortune of which you deprive me; you still leave me the love whichI have always enjoyed." "Ah, yes, most assuredly," said the eyesof the paralytic, for he closed them with an expression which Valentine couldnot mistake. "Thank you, thank you," murmured she. The old man'sdeclaration that Valentine was not the destined inheritor of his fortune hadexcited the hopes of Madame de Villefort; she gradually approached the invalid,and said: "Then, doubtless, dear M. Noirtier, you intend leaving yourfortune to your grandson, Edward de Villefort?" The winking of the eyeswhich answered this speech was most decided and terrible, and expressed a feelingalmost amounting to hatred. "No?" said the notary; "then,perhaps, it is to your son, M. de Villefort?" "No." The twonotaries looked at each other in mute astonishment and inquiry as to what werethe real intentions of the testator. Villefort and his wife both grew red, onefrom shame, the other from anger. "What have we all done, then, deargrandpapa?" said Valentine; "you no longer seem to love any ofus?" The old man's eyes passed rapidly from Villefort and his wife, andrested on Valentine with a look of unutterable fondness. "Well," saidshe; "if you love me, grandpapa, try and bring that love to bear upon youractions at this present moment. You know me well enough to be quite sure that Ihave never thought of your fortune; besides, they say I am already rich inright of my mother--too rich, even. Explain yourself, then." Noirtierfixed his intelligent eyes on Valentine's hand. "My hand?" said she."Yes." "Her hand!" exclaimed every one. "Oh,gentlemen, you see it is all useless, and that my father's mind is reallyimpaired," said Villefort. "Ah," cried Valentine suddenly,"I understand. It is my marriage you mean, is it not, deargrandpapa?" "Yes, yes, yes," signed the paralytic, casting onValentine a look of joyful gratitude for having guessed his meaning. "Youare angry with us all on account of this marriage, are you not?""Yes?" "Really, this is too absurd," said Villefort. "Excuseme, sir," replied the notary; "on the contrary, the meaning of M.Noirtier is quite evident to me, and I can quite easily connect the train ofideas passing in his mind."