The Count of Monte Cristo

The King’s Attorney’s House

The chapter opens at M. de Villefort’s residence, following the departure of Madame Danglars and her daughter. M. de Villefort enters his father M. Noirtier’s room accompanied by Madame de Villefort, both greeting the old man and his faithful servant Barrois, who has served Noirtier for twenty-five years.

M. Noirtier’s Room

M. Noirtier sits in a wheeled armchair positioned before a large mirror that reflects the entire apartment, allowing him to observe all who enter and everything occurring around him without being able to move. Although almost as immobile as a corpse, his eyes retain quick and intelligent expression.

The Paralytic

Despite being completely paralyzed, Noirtier’s eyes and hearing remain his only functioning senses. His white hair flows over his shoulders while his eyes, shaded by thick black lashes, contain all the activity, address, force, and intelligence formerly distributed throughout his body. His expressive eyes serve as his sole medium for communication—commanding, expressing thanks, and conveying anger or joy. Only three people can understand his mute language: Villefort, his granddaughter Valentine, and the old servant Barrois. Due to Villefort’s rare visits and lack of effort to connect, all the old man’s happiness centers on Valentine, who has learned through love, patience, and devotion to read every varied feeling in his gaze.

The Marriage Announcement

Villefort dismisses Valentine to the garden, sends away Barrois, and announces that Valentine is to marry M. Franz de Quesnel, Baron d’Épinay—whom he describes as possessing fortune, high social rank, and personal qualifications. Noirtier displays no emotion at this news. Madame de Villefort explains that Franz’s parents died when he was two years old, leaving him to choose his own path. When Madame de Villefort pronounces Franz’s name, Noirtier’s eyes dilate and he darts an angry glance at her and his son. Villefort understands this reaction stems from the political hatred that formerly existed between Noirtier and the elder d’Épinay, but feigns ignorance. Villefort adds that the marriage will occur in less than three months and that Noirtier will live with the young couple, ensuring Valentine’s continued care for him.

Valentine and Noirtier

After her parents depart, Valentine enters and immediately perceives her grandfather is suffering. Through their established communication system of eye movements—closing eyes for approval, winking for refusal, raising eyes to heaven for general desires—Valentine deduces that her parents announced her marriage. When Valentine asks if he dislikes Franz, Noirtier’s eyes repeatedly say “No, no, no.” Kneeling beside him, Valentine confesses she does not love Franz either, recalling how angry Noirtier was when she previously suggested entering a convent to escape this marriage. She expresses despair about the arranged union and her helplessness to oppose it. In response, Noirtier’s eyes convey that he can still help her despite his physical limitations.

The Notary Request

Noirtier signals his desire for something by raising his eyes to heaven. Valentine systematically runs through the alphabet until reaching “N,” which causes him to signal affirmatively. She fetches a dictionary and, through their practiced method of communication, identifies that Noirtier wants a notary. Despite Villefort’s skepticism and attempts to dissuade him, Noirtier remains firm in his request. Barrois, who acknowledges no master but Noirtier, triumphantly departs to fetch a notary, leaving Villefort to reluctantly agree to this strange demand.

CHAPITRE 59. The Will

When Noirtier’s servant Barrois returns with a notary, Villefort explains that his father has become completely paralyzed and lost his voice, but the elderly Noirtier successfully conveys through meaningful looks that he wishes to remain in the room. Valentine explains to the notary that she has learned to understand her grandfather’s communication system—closing his eyes for “yes” and winking for “no”—and the notary agrees to proceed with drawing up the will once he verifies Noirtier possesses full mental faculties. Through a painstaking process where Valentine names letters alphabetically and the old man signals to stop at the desired words, they confirm that Noirtier’s fortune amounts to exactly 900,000 francs in bank scrip. The most shocking revelation comes when the notary asks if the fortune should go to Valentine, who has tended Noirtier for six years, and the old man firmly signals his dissent, leading everyone to believe he intends to disinherit his entire family in favor of charitable institutions—until Valentine suddenly realizes her grandfather’s objection is specifically to her marriage with Franz d’Épinay.