Chapter 59 - The Will
Summary
Valentine successfully overcomes the notary's initial hesitation regarding Noirtier’s capacity by demonstrating a reliable system of eye-blinking to communicate her grandfather's wishes. Noirtier dictates a will that explicitly disinherits Valentine if she marries Franz d'Epinay and bequeaths his fortune to charity, a decision driven by his desire to punish his son Villefort. Despite Villefort's protests that he alone controls Valentine's hand and will honor his father's charitable intent despite legal technicalities, Villefort and his wife leave the room, after which the will is sealed, leaving the family in a state of tense silence.
Characters
- Barrois — Barrois fetches the notary and later leaves to fetch a second notary after anticipating his master's wishes. He accompanies the officials, opens a small box containing government bonds for them, and facilitates the communication process by running out to retrieve items as needed.
- Villefort (M. de Villefort, the crown prosecutor, her father) — Villefort sits in his father's room, attempts to have the notary withdraw based on doubts about Noirtier's mental state, and later argues that he alone has the right to decide Valentine's marriage. He reluctantly accepts the will's charitable bequest as binding and leaves the room with his wife after the document is sealed.
- Deschamps (M. Deschamps, the family lawyer) — Deschamps is identified as the family lawyer with whom the sealed will is deposited at the end of the proceedings, though he does not actively participate in the dictation scene itself.
- Edouard (Edouard de Villefort) — Edouard is not present in the room but is discussed by Madame de Villefort as the potential recipient of the fortune before Noirtier vehemently rejects him.
- Noirtier (grandfather, the invalid, Monsieur Noirtier de Villefort) — Noirtier communicates his will entirely through eye signals, confirming his fortune, rejecting Valentine as heir if she marries Franz, and bequeathing his money to charity. He demonstrates unimpaired intelligence to the notaries, overrides his son's authority, and watches with triumph as the will is sealed against his son's wishes.
- Valentine (Mademoiselle de Villefort, her granddaughter) — Valentine acts as the interpreter for her grandfather, establishing a system of eye-blinking to prove his mental competence. She steps between the notary and the door to prevent departure, negotiates the terms of the will, and expresses sorrow and gratitude regarding Noirtier's disinheritance based on her marital status.
- Mme de Villefort — Madame de Villefort sits beside her husband, attempts to persuade the notary and Noirtier that Valentine should inherit the fortune, and rejoices internally when Noirtier rejects Valentine as heir in favor of charity, hoping this will benefit her son Edouard.