"When someone makes a will," the notary said, "it's generally to benefit or exclude specific people."
Yes.
"Do you have a clear understanding of the size of your fortune?"
Yes.
"I'll name increasingly large sums. Stop me when I reach the amount of your assets."
Yes.
A solemn atmosphere descended. Never had the battle between mind and body been more apparent, if not sublime, then certainly fascinating. They had formed a circle around the invalid. The second notary sat at a table ready to write, while his colleague stood before the testator, conducting the interrogation.
"Your fortune exceeds 300,000 francs, correct?"
Noirtier indicated yes.
"Do you possess 400,000 francs?"
His eye remained motionless. No.
"Five hundred thousand?"
The same stillness.
"600,000... 700,000... 800,000... 900,000?"
Noirtier stopped him at the last figure.
"So you possess 900,000 francs?"
Yes.
"In property and land?"
No.
"In stocks and investments?"
Yes.
