Enter Alain, then two servants, who arrange tables, chairs, &c. Enter Madame Laroque, M'lle Marguerite, M De Bevannes, Desmaret, Mons. Nouret, M'lle Helouin, Madam Aubrey, Manuel and Guests.
Mad. L. [to servants.] That will do, you may retire.
[Exeunt Alain and servants.
Des. Before you proceed to business, Monsieur Nouret, I will make a few preliminary remarks, if you will allow me.
Mons. Nouret. Certainly, Doctor. Pray speak.
Des. For the information of those friends of the family who are yet unacquainted with the facts, I wish to state that, before the death of M. Laroque, he wrote a letter to be given to me, his oldest friend, when he was no more. I shall read a short extract. [Reads.] "For these reasons it is my earnest desire, nay positive injunction, that my grand-daughters' marriage shall take place within six months of my death, with the same ceremonies and rejoicings as though I were still living, and the reading of the will shall immediately succeed the marriage." And now, Monsieur, before proceeding, it is necessary for you to state that all is ready for the reading of the will immediately on our return.
Mons. N. I trust all will be ready, Doctor; but, at present, I cannot say it is so, for although I find the will and codicils of the deceased to be in the most perfect order, and numbered in regular succession, I have, thus far, been unable to discover the first of the series, marked No. 1. All the rest are here—2, 3, 4, and 5—but 1 is wanting. Now the legacies are, with the exception of a few to the old servants, entirely to Mons. Laroque's blood relations.
Mad. A. [Weeps.] Oh!
Mons. N. Be comforted Madame, he was indeed a kind man. His blood relations have all been thought of.
Mad. A. But I'm not a blood relation. Oh!