l makes his will,
it is generally in favor or 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 by gradation; you
will stop me when I reach the one representing 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 more apparent than now, and
if it was not a sublime, it was, at least, a curious spectacle. They had
formed a circle round the invalid; the second notary was sitting at a
table, prepared for writing, and his colleague was standing before the
testator in the act of interrogating him on the subject to which we have
alluded. "Your fortune exceeds 300,000. francs, does it not?" asked
he. Noirtier made a sign that it did. "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 the
last-named sum. "You are then in possession of 900,000. francs?" asked
the notary. "Yes."

"In landed property?"

"No."

"In stock?"

"Yes."

"The stock is in your own hands?" The look which M. Noirtier cast on
Barrois showed that there was something wanting which 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 900,000.
francs in bank scrip. The first notary handed over each note, 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 mind still retains its full
force and vigor." Then, turning towards the paralytic, he said, "You
possess, then, 900,000. francs of capital, which, according to the
manner in which 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 she who 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 her grandfather, and it is but just that she
should r