As soon as Barrois had left the room, Noirtier looked at Valentine with a malicious expression that said many things. —
巴鲁瓦一离开房间，诺尔缇尔用一种恶毒的表情看着瓦伦丁，表达了许多意思。 —

The young girl perfectly understood the look, and so did Villefort, for his countenance became clouded, and he knitted his eyebrows angrily. —
这个年轻女孩完全理解了那种表情，维勒福尔也明白了，因为他的脸色变得阴沉，愤怒地皱起了眉头。 —

He took a seat, and quietly awaited the arrival of the notary. —
他坐下来，静静地等待公证人的到来。 —

Noirtier saw him seat himself with an appearance of perfect indifference, at the same time giving a side look at Valentine, which made her understand that she also was to remain in the room. —
诺尔缇尔看着他坐下来，一副非常漠不关心的样子，同时斜眼看了瓦伦丁一眼，让她明白她也得留在房间里。 —

Three-quarters of an hour after, Barrois returned, bringing the notary with him.
三刻钟后，巴鲁瓦回来了，带着公证人。

“Sir,” said Villefort, after the first salutations were over, “you were sent for by M. Noirtier, whom you see here. —
“先生，”维勒福尔在第一次问候结束后说道，“您是因为诺尔缇尔先生才被派来的，您现在看到了他。” —

All his limbs have become completely paralysed, he has lost his voice also, and we ourselves find much trouble in endeavoring to catch some fragments of his meaning.”
他的四肢完全瘫痪了，他也失去了声音，而我们自己在努力捕捉他意思的时候也有很多困难。

Noirtier cast an appealing look on Valentine, which look was at once so earnest and imperative, that she answered immediately.
诺蒂埃向瓦伦丁投以一种吸引人的眼神，这眼神既真诚又急切，让她立刻回答说。

“Sir,” said she, “I perfectly understand my grandfather’s meaning at all times.”
“先生，”她说，“我在任何时候都能完全理解爷爷的意思。”

“That is quite true,” said Barrois; “and that is what I told the gentleman as we walked along.”
“那是完全正确的，”巴鲁瓦说，“这就是我们一路上告诉那位先生的。”

“Permit me,” said the notary, turning first to Villefort and then to Valentine—“permit me to state that the case in question is just one of those in which a public officer like myself cannot proceed to act without thereby incurring a dangerous responsibility. —
“请允许我，”公证人转身对维尔福和瓦伦丁说，“允许我说明一下，这个案子正是那种公职人员如我所不能在不承担危险责任的情况下行动的案子。 —

The first thing necessary to render an act valid is, that the notary should be thoroughly convinced that he has faithfully interpreted the will and wishes of the person dictating the act. —
为了使一项行为有效，第一件必要的事情是公证人必须完全相信自己忠实地传达了起草人的意愿和愿望。 —

Now I cannot be sure of the approbation or disapprobation of a client who cannot speak, and as the object of his desire or his repugnance cannot be clearly proved to me, on account of his want of speech, my services here would be quite useless, and cannot be legally exercised.”
现在我无法确定一个不能说话的客户是否赞同或不赞同，而且由于他无法说话，他所欲求或厌恶的对象对我来说也无法明确证明，因此我的服务在这里将完全无用，并且无法合法施行。

The notary then prepared to retire. An imperceptible smile of triumph was expressed on the lips of the procureur. —
然后公证人准备离开。检查官的嘴唇上露出了一丝难以察觉的胜利微笑。 —

Noirtier looked at Valentine with an expression so full of grief, that she arrested the departure of the notary.
诺蒂埃尔用一种充满悲伤的表情看着瓦伦丁，她阻止了公证人的离开。

“Sir,” said she, “the language which I speak with my grandfather may be easily learnt, and I can teach you in a few minutes, to understand it almost as well as I can myself. —
“先生，”她说，“我和祖父交流的语言可以很容易地学会，我可以在几分钟内教会你几乎和我一样好地理解它。” —

Will you tell me what you require, in order to set your conscience quite at ease on the subject?”
你能告诉我为了让你内心完全安心，你需要什么吗？

“In order to render an act valid, I must be certain of the approbation or disapprobation of my client. —
“为了使一项行为有效，我必须确定客户的赞同或不赞同。” —

Illness of body would not affect the validity of the deed, but sanity of mind is absolutely requisite.”
身体上的疾病不会影响文件的有效性，但心智的健全是绝对必要的。

“Well, sir, by the help of two signs, with which I will acquaint you presently, you may ascertain with perfect certainty that my grandfather is still in the full possession of all his mental faculties. —
先生，我会告诉您两个符号，借助这两个符号，您可以完全肯定地判断出我祖父目前仍然完全保持着正常的心智。 —

M. Noirtier, being deprived of voice and motion, is accustomed to convey his meaning by closing his eyes when he wishes to signify ‘yes, ’ and to wink when he means ‘no. —
诺蒂埃先生因为失去了语言和动作能力，习惯了通过闭上眼睛表示“是”，通过眨眼表示“否”来传达他的意思。 —

’ You now know quite enough to enable you to converse with M. Noirtier;—try.”
现在你已经知道足够多的信息来和诺蒂埃先生会话了，试试吧。

Noirtier gave Valentine such a look of tenderness and gratitude that it was comprehended even by the notary himself.
诺蒂埃向瓦伦丁投以了一种充满柔情和感激的目光，连公证人自己都能感受到。

“You have heard and understood what your granddaughter has been saying, sir, have you? —
先生，您听到并理解了您的孙女所说的话了吗？ —

” asked the notary. Noirtier closed his eyes.
公证人问道，诺蒂埃闭上了眼睛。

“And you approve of what she said—that is to say, you declare that the signs which she mentioned are really those by means of which you are accustomed to convey your thoughts?”
“你同意她的说法，也就是说，你确认她提到的那些符号确实是你习惯用来传达思想的符号吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“It was you who sent for me?”
“是你叫我来的吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“To make your will?”
“是为了立遗嘱吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“And you do not wish me to go away without fulfilling your original intentions? —
“那你不希望我在没有完成你最初的意愿之前离开？” —

” The old man winked violently.
老人狠狠地眨了眨眼。

“Well, sir,” said the young girl, “do you understand now, and is your conscience perfectly at rest on the subject?”
“嗯，先生，”小女孩说，“你现在明白了吗，你的良知对这个问题完全放心吗？”

But before the notary could answer, Villefort had drawn him aside.
但公证人还没来得及回答，维尔福特已经把他拉到一边。

“Sir,” said he, “do you suppose for a moment that a man can sustain a physical shock, such as M. Noirtier has received, without any detriment to his mental faculties?”
“先生，”他说，“你真的以为一个人可以忍受像努瓦泰尔先生所遭受的身体打击，而不对他的精神能力造成任何损害吗？”

“It is not exactly that, sir,” said the notary, “which makes me uneasy, but the difficulty will be in wording his thoughts and intentions, so as to be able to get his answers.”
“不完全是这样，先生，”公证人说，“让我担心的不是这个，而是如何用恰当的措辞来表达他的思想和意图，以便能够得到他的回答。”

“You must see that to be an utter impossibility,” said Villefort. —
“你必须明白这是完全不可能的，”维尔福说道。 —

Valentine and the old man heard this conversation, and Noirtier fixed his eye so earnestly on Valentine that she felt bound to answer to the look.
瓦伦泰娜和老人听到了这段对话，努尔缇耶专注地盯着瓦伦泰娜，以至于她感到有必要回应这个眼神。

“Sir,” said she, “that need not make you uneasy, however difficult it may at first sight appear to be. —
“先生，”她说，“这一点不必让您感到不安，无论乍看起来多么困难。 —

I can discover and explain to you my grandfather’s thoughts, so as to put an end to all your doubts and fears on the subject. —
我可以发现并解释给您听我祖父的想法，从而消除您对此事的疑虑和担忧。 —

I have now been six years with M. Noirtier, and let him tell you if ever once, during that time, he has entertained a thought which he was unable to make me understand.”
我已经和努尔缇耶先生在一起六年了，在这段时间里，让他告诉您是否曾有一次他不能使我明白的想法。”

“No,” signed the old man.
老人摇了摇头。

“Let us try what we can do, then,” said the notary. —
“那我们试试看吧，”公证人说道。 —

“You accept this young lady as your interpreter, M. Noirtier?”
“您接受这位年轻女士作为您的口译，努瓦提耶先生？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“Well, sir, what do you require of me, and what document is it that you wish to be drawn up?”
“那么，先生，您需要我做什么，并且您要起草的是哪份文件？”

Valentine named all the letters of the alphabet until she came to W. At this letter the eloquent eye of Noirtier gave her notice that she was to stop.
瓦伦丁从字母表的A开始依次念到W，当她念到这个字母时，努瓦提耶的灵动眼神示意她停下。

“It is very evident that it is the letter W which M. Noirtier wants,” said the notary.
“显然努瓦提耶先生需要的是字母W。”公证人说道。

“Wait,” said Valentine; and, turning to her grandfather, she repeated, “Wa—We—Wi——” The old man stopped her at the last syllable. —
“等等。”瓦伦丁说着，转向她的祖父，重复着，“瓦-韦-温——”老人在最后一个音节处制止了她。 —

Valentine then took the dictionary, and the notary watched her while she turned over the pages.
然后瓦伦丁拿起字典，公证人注视着她翻页的动作。

She passed her finger slowly down the columns, and when she came to the word “Will,” M. Noirtier’s eye bade her stop.
她缓慢地从列中滑过，当她找到“遗嘱”这个词时，努瓦提耶的眼神示意她停下。

“Will,” said the notary; “it is very evident that M. Noirtier is desirous of making his will.”
“遗嘱。”公证人说道，“显然努瓦提耶先生希望立遗嘱。”

“Yes, yes, yes,” motioned the invalid.
“是的，是的，是的，”这位病患示意道。

“Really, sir, you must allow that this is most extraordinary, ” said the astonished notary, turning to M. de Villefort.
“事实上，先生，你必须承认这非常不寻常。”惊讶的公证人转向维尔福先生说道。

“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 too much interested in its contents to allow of her being a suitable interpreter of the obscure and ill-defined wishes of her grandfather.”
“是的，”检察官说道，“我认为这份遗嘱可能会更加不寻常，因为如果没有瓦伦泰娜的介入，我无法想象如何能草拟出来。而她可能会被认为对遗嘱的内容过于关注，不能作为一个恰当的诠释者来解读她祖父模糊而不明确的意愿。”

“No, no, no,” replied the eye of the paralytic.
“不，不，不。”瘫痪者的眼神回答道。

“What?” said Villefort, “do you mean to say that Valentine is not interested in your will?”
“怎么了？”维尔福问道，“难道你是说瓦伦泰娜对你的遗嘱没有兴趣？”

“No.”
“不。”

“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 impossible to me an hour ago, 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. —
“先生，”那位充满兴趣的公证人说道，他决定广泛宣传这一非同寻常而生动的场景，“在一个小时前我认为不可能的事情，现在已经变得非常简单和可行了，只要在七位见证人的面前朗读，由遗嘱者认可并由公证人在见证人的面前盖章，这可能就是一个完全有效的遗嘱。 —

As to the time, it will not require very much more than the generality of wills. —
关于时间，它并不需要比一般的遗嘱多得多。 —

There are certain forms necessary to be gone through, and which are always the same. —
有一些必须经过的形式程序，而这些程序总是一样的。 —

As to the details, the greater part will be furnished afterwards by the state in which we find the affairs of the testator, and by yourself, who, having had the management of them, can doubtless give full information on the subject. —
至于具体细节，大部分将由我们发现遗嘱人的财务状况以及您自己提供，您作为管理者无疑可以就此提供充分的信息。” —

But besides all this, in order that the instrument may not be contested, I am anxious to give it the greatest possible authenticity, therefore, one of my colleagues will help me, and, contrary to custom, will assist in the dictation of the testament. —
但是除此之外，为了使这份文件不受争议，我很想增加它的真实性，因此我有一个同事会帮助我，违背惯例，他会协助口述遗嘱。 —

Are you satisfied, sir?” continued the notary, addressing the old man.
“您满意吗，先生？” 继续说话的公证人问老人。

“Yes,” looked the invalid, his eye beaming with delight at the ready interpretation of his meaning.
“是的。” 看着他的眼睛充满喜悦，对他的意思有着即刻的理解。

“What is he going to do?” thought Villefort, whose position demanded much reserve, but who was longing to know what his father’s intentions were. —
“他要做什么呢？” 维勒福特心想，他的位置要求他保持克制，但他渴望知道他父亲的意图是什么。 —

He left the room to give orders for another notary to be sent, but Barrois, who had heard all that passed, had guessed his master’s wishes, and had already gone to fetch one. —
他离开房间去下令派遣另外一位公证人，但已经听到一切的巴鲁瓦斯已经猜到了主人的意愿，已经去找一位。 —

The procureur then told his wife to come up. —
检察官接着告诉他的妻子上来。 —

In the course of a quarter of an hour everyone had assembled in the chamber of the paralytic; —
在一个小时的时间内，每个人都聚集在瘫痪者的房间里； —

the second notary had also arrived.
第二位公证人也已经到达。

A few words sufficed for a mutual understanding between the two officers of the law. —
两位执法官之间只需要几句话就能达成相互理解。 —

They read to Noirtier the formal copy of a will, in order to give him an idea of the terms in which such documents are generally couched; —
他们给努尔缇埃朗读了一封法律文本的正式抄本，以使他了解这类文件通常采用的措辞； —

then, in order to test the capacity of the testator, the first notary said, turning towards him:
接着，为了测试遗嘱人的智力能力，第一位公证人转向他说：

“When an individual makes his will, it is generally in favor or in prejudice of some person.”
“当个人立遗嘱时，通常是为了有利或有损于某人。”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“Have you an exact idea of the amount of your fortune?”
“您对自己财产的确切数额有一个概念吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“I will name to you several sums which will increase by gradation; —
“我将向您提到几笔金额，逐渐增加； —

you will stop me when I reach the one representing the amount of your own possessions?”
当我达到代表您自己财产金额的时候，请您告诉我停下来？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

There was a kind of solemnity in this interrogation. —
这种询问中有一种庄严的氛围。 —

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. —
此刻，心灵与物质之间的斗争变得格外明显，虽然不是崇高的，但至少是一个奇特的场景。 —

They had formed a circle round the invalid; —
他们在病弱者周围形成了一个圈子； —

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.
第二个公证人坐在桌子前，准备写作，他的同事站在受测者前，正在对他进行有关我们所提到的事情的询问。

“Your fortune exceeds 300,000 francs, does it not?” asked he. Noirtier made a sign that it did.
“你的财产超过300，000法郎，对吗？”他问道。诺亚提尔示意是的。

“Do you possess 400,000 francs?” inquired the notary. Noirtier’s eye remained immovable.
“你有400，000法郎吗？”公证人问道。诺亚提尔的眼睛没有动。

“500,000?” The same expression continued.
“500，000？”同样的表情持续下去。

“600,000—700,000—800,000—900,000?”
“600，000—700，000—800，000—900，000？”

Noirtier stopped him at the last-named sum.
诺亚提尔在最后一笔钱数时阻止了他。

“You are then in possession of 900,000 francs?” asked the notary.
“那你有900，000法郎？”公证人问道。

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“In landed property?”
“是用土地来持有的吗？”

“No.”
“不是。”

“In stock?”
“是用股票吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“The stock is in your own hands?”
“股票在你自己手上吗？”

The look which M. Noirtier cast on Barrois showed that there was something wanting which he knew where to find. —
诺亚提尔看着巴瓦里斯的眼神表明还有一些东西是缺少的，他知道在哪里找到。 —

The old servant left the room, and presently returned, bringing with him a small casket.
老仆人离开房间，很快返回，带回了一个小箱子。

“Do you permit us to open this casket?” asked the notary. Noirtier gave his assent.
“你允许我们打开这个棺材吗？”公证人问道。诺尔缇耶表示同意。

They opened it, and found 900,000 francs in bank scrip. —
他们打开了棺材，发现里面有900,000法郎的银行票据。 —

The first notary handed over each note, as he examined it, to his colleague.
第一个公证人在检查每张票据时，逐一递给了他的同事。

The total amount was found to be as M. Noirtier had stated.
发现的总金额与诺尔缇耶先生所说的一样。

“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?”
“一切都如他所说的，很明显大脑仍然保持着完全的力量和活力。”然后，他转向瘫痪的人，说道，“那么，你拥有900, 000法郎的资本，根据你的投资方式，应该能带来约40,000里弗的收入？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“To whom do you desire to leave this fortune?”
“你想把这笔财产留给谁？”

“Oh!” said Madame de Villefort, “there is not much doubt on that subject. —
“噢！”维尔福夫人说，“在这个问题上没有什么疑问。 —

M. Noirtier tenderly loves his granddaughter, Mademoiselle de Villefort; —
诺尔缇耶先生深爱他的孙女，维尔福小姐。” —

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 reap the fruit of her devotion.”
这是她六年来照顾和关怀他，而且凭借她的全心全意，她几乎可以说获得了她祖父的感激之情，她应该得到她奉献的回报。

The eye of Noirtier clearly showed by its expression that he was not deceived by the false assent given by Madame de Villefort’s words and manner to the motives which she supposed him to entertain.
Noirtier的眼神清楚地表明他没有被Madame de Villefort的言辞和态度所愚弄，这个眼神显示了她所认为他拥有的动机。

“Is it, then, to Mademoiselle Valentine de Villefort that you leave these 900,000 francs? —
“那么，这九十万法郎是留给瓦伦蒂娜·德维勒福小姐的吗？”公证人问道，他以为只需插入这一条款，但首先要等待Noirtier的同意，这是必需的，因为所有人都需要见证这一奇特场景。 —

” demanded the notary, thinking he had only to insert this clause, but waiting first for the assent of Noirtier, which it was necessary should be given before all the witnesses of this singular scene.
公证人要求道，认为他只需插入这一条款，但首先要等待Noirtier的同意，这是必需的，因为所有人都需要见证这一奇特场景。

Valentine, when her name was made the subject of discussion, had stepped back, to escape unpleasant observation; —
当瓦伦蒂娜的名字成为讨论的话题时，她退到一旁，避免引起不愉快的注意。 —

her eyes were cast down, and she was crying. —
她的眼睛朝下看，她在哭泣。 —

The old man looked at her for an instant with an expression of the deepest tenderness, then, turning towards the notary, he significantly winked his eye in token of dissent.
老人注视着她，表情中充满了深深的柔情，然后转向公证人，用暗示的眼神表示不同意。

“What,” said the notary, “do you not intend making Mademoiselle Valentine de Villefort your residuary legatee?”
“什么？”公证人问道，“难道您不打算把瓦伦泰娜·德维尔福特小姐定为您的继承人？”

“No.”
“不。”

“You are not making any mistake, are you?” said the notary; —
“您确定没有弄错？”公证人问道； —

“you really mean to declare that such is not your intention?”
“您真的是打算声明不这样做？”

“No,” repeated Noirtier; “No.”
“不，”诺尔缇尔再次重复道，“不。”

Valentine raised her head, struck dumb with astonishment. —
瓦伦泰娜抬起头，惊讶得说不出话来。 —

It was 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 her grandfather to such an act. —
她之所以悲伤，并非因为她被剥夺了继承权，而是完全无法理解引起祖父做出这种行为的感受。 —

But Noirtier looked at her with so much affectionate tenderness that she exclaimed:
但诺尔缇尔用充满深情的眼神看着她，她感叹道：

“Oh, grandpapa, I see now that it is only your fortune of which you deprive me; —
“哦，爷爷，我现在明白您只是剥夺了我的财产； —

you still leave me the love which I have always enjoyed.”
您依然给我留下了我一直享受的爱。”

“Ah, yes, most assuredly,” said the eyes of the paralytic, for he closed them with an expression which Valentine could not mistake.
“啊，是的，毫无疑问，”瘫痪者的眼睛这样说道，因为他闭上了眼睛，表情让瓦伦丁无法误解。

“Thank you, thank you,” murmured she. —
“谢谢, 谢谢，”她低声说道。 —

The old man’s declaration that Valentine was not the destined inheritor of his fortune had excited the hopes of Madame de Villefort; —
老人宣称瓦伦丁并非他的财产的合法继承人，这激起了维尔福夫人的希望。 —

she gradually approached the invalid, and said:
她逐渐接近那个病人，说道：

“Then, doubtless, dear M. Noirtier, you intend leaving your fortune to your grandson, Edward de Villefort?”
“那么，毫无疑问，亲爱的诺尔缇耶先生，您打算将财产留给您的孙子，爱德华·德维尔福吗？”

The winking of the eyes which answered this speech was most decided and terrible, and expressed a feeling almost amounting to hatred.
回答这句话的眼睛眨动得坚定而可怕，表达了一种几乎接近仇恨的情感。

“No?” said the notary; “then, perhaps, it is to your son, M. de Villefort?”
“不是吗？”公证人说道，“那么，也许是您的儿子，德维尔福先生？”

“No.” The two notaries looked at each other in mute astonishment and inquiry as to what were the real intentions of the testator. —
“不是。”两名公证人相互看着，一言不发，对遗嘱人的真实意图感到惊讶和疑问。 —

Villefort and his wife both grew red, one from shame, the other from anger.
维尔福和他的妻子都变得脸红，一个是因为羞愧，另一个是因为愤怒。

“What have we all done, then, dear grandpapa?” said Valentine; —
“那么，亲爱的爷爷，我们到底做错了什么？”瓦伦丁说道。 —

“you no longer seem to love any of us?”
“你似乎不再爱我们中的任何一个了？”

The old man’s eyes passed rapidly from Villefort and his wife, and rested on Valentine with a look of unutterable fondness.
老人的眼睛迅速地从维尔福和他的妻子身上移开，停留在瓦伦丁身上，带着无法言喻的深情。

“Well,” said she; “if you love me, grandpapa, try and bring that love to bear upon your actions at this present moment. —
“好吧，”她说，“如果你爱我，爷爷，请试着将这份爱体现在你当前的行动上。” —

You know me well enough to be quite sure that I have never thought of your fortune; —
你对我了解得足够清楚，以至于可以肯定我从未考虑过你的财产； —

besides, they say I am already rich in right of my mother—too rich, even. —
况且，他们说我是根据我母亲的遗产已经很富有了-甚至太富有了。 —

Explain yourself, then.”
请解释一下你的意思。

Noirtier fixed his intelligent eyes on Valentine’s hand.
诺尔缇亚聚精会神地看着瓦伦丁的手。

“My hand?” said she.
“我的手？”她说。

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“Her hand!” exclaimed everyone.
“她的手！”大家惊呼道。

“Oh, gentlemen, you see it is all useless, and that my father’s mind is really impaired,” said Villefort.
“哦，先生们，你们看，一切都是无济于事的，我父亲的心智真的有问题。”维尔福说道。

“Ah,” cried Valentine suddenly, “I understand. —
“啊，”瓦伦丁突然喊道，“我明白了。 —

It is my marriage you mean, is it not, dear grandpapa?”
你是指我的婚姻，对吗，亲爱的爷爷？”

“Yes, yes, yes,” signed the paralytic, casting on Valentine a look of joyful gratitude for having guessed his meaning.
“是的，是的，是的，”麻痹的人用手势表示感激瓦伦丁猜到了他的意思。

“You are angry with us all on account of this marriage, are you not?”
“因为这次婚姻，你对我们都感到生气，是不是？”

“Yes?”
“是的？”

“Really, this is too absurd,” said Villefort.
“真的，这太荒谬了，”维尔福说。

“Excuse me, sir,” replied the notary; —
“对不起，先生，”公证人回答说； —

“on the contrary, the meaning of M. Noirtier is quite evident to me, and I can quite easily connect the train of ideas passing in his mind.”
“相反，我完全明白诺瓦蒂耶先生的意思，我可以很容易地连接他脑中的思维过程。”

“You do not wish me to marry M. Franz d’Épinay?” observed Valentine.
“你不希望我嫁给弗朗茨·德埃皮奈先生？”瓦伦丁问道。

“I do not wish it,” said the eye of her grandfather.
“我不希望，”她祖父的眼睛说。

“And you disinherit your granddaughter,” continued the notary, “because she has contracted an engagement contrary to your wishes?”
“而且你剥夺了你的孙女继承权，”公证人继续说，“因为她与你的意愿相悖地订婚了？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“So that, but for this marriage, she would have been your heir?”
“所以，如果不是这次婚姻，她就会成为你的继承人？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

There was a profound silence. The two notaries were holding a consultation as to the best means of proceeding with the affair. —
一片静寂。两位公证人正商量着如何最好地处理这件事情。 —

Valentine was looking at her grandfather with a smile of intense gratitude, and Villefort was biting his lips with vexation, while Madame de Villefort could not succeed in repressing an inward feeling of joy, which, in spite of herself, appeared in her whole countenance.
瓦伦丁满怀深切的感激望着她的祖父，而维勒福则愤怒地咬着嘴唇，而维尔福夫人则无法压制住内心的喜悦，这种喜悦不由自主地表现在她的整个面容上。

“But,” said Villefort, who was the first to break the silence, “I consider that I am the best judge of the propriety of the marriage in question. —
“但是”，维勒福打破了沉默，说道，“我认为我是对这桩婚姻的适宜性最好的评判者。 —

I am the only person possessing the right to dispose of my daughter’s hand. —
我是唯一有权决定女儿婚事的人。 —

It is my wish that she should marry M. Franz d’Épinay—and she shall marry him.”
我希望她嫁给弗朗茨·德·埃皮奈先生–她将嫁给他。”

Valentine sank weeping into a chair.
瓦伦丁哭着坐在椅子上。

“Sir,” said the notary, “how do you intend disposing of your fortune in case Mademoiselle de Villefort still determines on marrying M. Franz? —
“先生，”公证人说，“如果维尔福小姐仍然决定嫁给弗朗茨先生，您打算如何处置您的财产呢？ —

” The old man gave no answer.
”老人没有回答。

“You will, of course, dispose of it in some way or other?”
“您当然会以某种方式处置它，是吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“In favor of some member of your family?”
“用来支持您的家庭成员？”

“No.”
“不是。”

“Do you intend devoting it to charitable purposes, then?” pursued the notary.
“那么，您打算将它用于慈善目的吗？”公证人追问道。

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“But,” said the notary, “you are aware that the law does not allow a son to be entirely deprived of his patrimony?”
“但是，”公证人说，“您知道法律不允许完全剥夺儿子的遗产吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“You only intend, then, to dispose of that part of your fortune which the law allows you to subtract from the inheritance of your son? —
“那么，您只打算处置法律允许您从儿子的继承中扣除的那部分财产？” —

” Noirtier made no answer.
诺蒂埃尔没有回答。

“Do you still wish to dispose of all?”
“您还是想全部处置吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“But they will contest the will after your death?”
“但是，他们在您去世后会对遗嘱提出争议。”

“No.”
“不会。”

“My father knows me,” replied Villefort; —
“我父亲了解我，”维勒福回答说。 —

“he is quite sure that his wishes will be held sacred by me; —
“他非常确信我的意愿会被我尊重； —

besides, he understands that in my position I cannot plead against the poor. —
此外，他明白在我这个位置上，我不能为穷人辩护。” —

” The eye of Noirtier beamed with triumph.
“诺蒂埃尔的眼睛闪烁着胜利的光芒。

“What do you decide on, sir?” asked the notary of Villefort.
“您决定了什么，先生？”公证人问维勒福。

“Nothing, sir; it is a resolution which my father has taken and I know he never alters his mind. —
“先生，无可奈何，这是我父亲下定的决心，我知道他从不改变主意。” —

I am quite resigned. These 900,000 francs will go out of the family in order to enrich some hospital; —
“我已经心甘情愿了。这900,000法郎将离开家族而去，去增加某家医院的财富； —

but it is ridiculous thus to yield to the caprices of an old man, and I shall, therefore, act according to my conscience.”
但是这样迁就一位老人的奇想实在是荒谬，所以我将按照我的良心行事。”

Having said this, Villefort quitted the room with his wife, leaving his father at liberty to do as he pleased. —
言罢，维尔福和妻子离开了房间，将父亲自由支配的权利留给他。 —

The same day the will was made, the witnesses were brought, it was approved by the old man, sealed in the presence of all and given in charge to M. Deschamps, the family notary.
同一天，遗嘱制作完成，见证人到场，老人批准了遗嘱，众人的面前加盖了印章，并委托给了家族公证人默尔·德尚。