Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 242 Settlement of Accounts
Lionel took the contract and saw that it was sent by his notary, Delacroix, and the red paint sealing it still bore the firm's emblem.

The contents of the contract were not complicated. One clause stated that the Sorel family entrusted the "De Lacroix Law Firm" to handle the fraud case on their behalf.

A senior lawyer from the "De la Croix firm" will be sent to the Alpine court at that time, and the fee will be quite high, a full 120 francs.

However, this way, Lionel's sister and parents would no longer have to testify in court, which would save them some face.

Another commissioned transaction, the "Panama Canal Five-Year Claim," which will be returned to the Sorel family after the trial, will also be sold by the firm on their behalf.

The firm will take a 2% cut.

Along with the contract came a handwritten note from Delacroix, which advised against being too optimistic about the amount recovered.

According to information he gathered inside the court, in cases like the Sorel family's, at most 60% of the losses could be recovered, which is about 3000 francs.

Although Lionel was heartbroken about the 2000 francs that had vanished with the wind, he knew that this was the best possible outcome.

His family back in the Alps has now emerged from the gloom—especially after he increased the money he sent home to 200 francs a month.

This is a decent income for the entire Laranje region, enough to maintain a respectable middle-class family life.

In the last few lines of the text message, Delacroix inquired whether Lionel's claim should be sent back to Alps after it was converted into cash.

After thinking for a moment, Lionel wrote back to Delacroix, asking his firm to find a suitable apartment in Gap, the capital of the Alps.

The recovered 3000 francs, plus a sum from his royalties—about 3000 to 5000 francs—was enough to buy a small apartment suitable for his parents in Gape.

Located in the Durance Valley in the southern Alps, with the Loisson River flowing through it, Gap is known as "one of the sunniest cities in France".

Although the winters here are cold, there is plenty of sunshine; the summer temperatures are also relatively mild, making it a great place for retirement.

House prices in downtown Paris are almost 10 times higher than in Gaupne, along with the annual stench from the Seine and the perpetual coal dust.

He planned to persuade his father to resign from his position as the town clerk in Montier within the next few years and move to Gapu with his mother and sister;
If the father still wants to work, he can find some small copying jobs to earn some pocket money.

By 1875, Gapp had a direct train line to Paris, so he would no longer have to transfer in Lyon to get home.

After finishing writing, Lionel called Alice over, who took the letter and said, "I'll type it up and send it out tomorrow."

Lionel nodded, then suddenly said, "I also need to write a letter later, to send home..."

Alice was taken aback, wondering why Lionel would specifically bring up such a trivial matter.

Lionel smiled and said, “In this letter, I will mention that I have ‘found you’ in Paris, and have my father pass on the message to your parents.”

Alice panicked, nearly knocking over the cup on Lionel's table: "This...I...they..."

The church ended its search for her two months ago and even revoked her status as a novice nun.

Logically speaking, she could have returned to Montiel at any time, or at least written a letter home.

But Alice did neither, as if she were running away from something.

Lionel's voice was very gentle: "Telling them doesn't mean you have to go back—or I won't write anything about you; it's all up to you."

Alice's expression shifted between light and shadow, her lips moving as she sighed after a long while: "Leon, just write it as you said."

I...I...I don't really blame them anymore...I shouldn't have made them worry anymore..."

Lionel nodded: "Okay. When I visited Rorschach Farm last time, I could tell they were all very remorseful..."

Now that you have all your identification documents, you are free to decide where to go without worry.

Alice finally smiled and said, "Thank you, Leon!" But she didn't leave the study, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Seeing that Alice seemed to have something to say, Lionel pressed her for an answer: "What is it? Is there something else?"

Alice gave a shy smile, biting her lip as she asked, "Leon, there's something I'd like to ask for your opinion on..."

Lionel asked, "Go ahead, what is it?" Alice hesitated for a moment before speaking, "...I'd like to lend some money to Mrs. Lobel on Muftal Street..."

She...she also wanted to buy a typewriter...to take on some copying work...She could read, but she had never written anything before...

But typewriters don't need to look at that... She's a good person... Her husband died last year, and she's raising two children alone; life is very difficult for her..."

After speaking, she glanced timidly at Lionel, as if waiting for him to reject her abrupt idea.

Lionel simply smiled and asked, "Mrs. Lobel, your new friend?"

Muftal Street is a side street on the south side of Boulevard Saint-Germain, close to the Latin Quarter. It is bustling and lively, and also has a farmers' market.

Alice nodded: "...She makes a living by mending, and her skills are quite good, but her prices are just too low..."

Last month your coat got a tear, and neither Patty nor I could mend it. Someone at the market introduced her to us…

She's a very nice person and very hardworking... We were chatting, and she heard that copying one page earns 15 shengding (a unit of currency), and she was very envious...

When Patty and I go shopping at the market, we often run into her, and sometimes we even stop by her place for a cup of tea..."

Lionel knew that after nearly a year of social isolation, Alice cherished every new friend she made.

This is essentially a form of psychological compensation.

He considered it for a moment, then asked, "How much money are you planning to lend her?"

Alice hesitated for a moment, then said, "About... 200 francs. She has 300 francs in savings..."

I went to the department store on Rue de la Richelieu a couple of days ago. My current one sells for 500 francs; if I save up, I can just afford one.

Lionel laughed and asked, "How did she know you could lend her 200 francs? That's no small sum."

Alice's face flushed red instantly, and she twisted the hem of her skirt with both hands, not knowing what to say.

Lionel then asked a few more key questions: "Have you calculated how long it will take her to return the 200 francs to you?"

Do you want to charge her interest? Where does her clientele come from?

Alice panicked: "This...this...I didn't calculate...interest, I'm sorry...customers, we had some regular customers before..."

Lionel interrupted her: "Those are all my classmates from the Sorbonne, and my teachers!"

Alice deflated immediately: "Leon, I understand. I'll tell Mrs. Lobel tomorrow that I can't lend her this money..."

Lionel shook his head: "Alice, I don't mean for you to reject her, but for you to do the math and not let this loan become a source of pain for you."

If you've calculated everything clearly and think this is feasible, I can continue to have the Sorbonne students hand over the manuscripts they want to copy.

But there's a condition—I want to see a clear account, not your overflowing sympathy.

Alice's eyes lit up: "Great! I'll calculate the accounts as soon as possible and give them to you!"

Before Alice left, he asked, "You just said that typewriters can be bought on 'Richlü Street'?"

Alice paused for a moment: "Yes, 'Richlü Street,' that's where the most office supply stores are..."

Lionel's desire to switch from quills to typewriters as his creative tool was not a recent development.

Even though typewriters of this era had various problems, the efficiency of writing still couldn't compare to that of typing.

Alice used to spend 15 minutes copying a page of manuscript; now, with the typewriter, it only takes 5 minutes.

Lionel considered that he not only had to finish the ending of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buton" but also had to seamlessly connect it to "A Study in Scarlet," so it was imperative to increase the speed of his writing.

(End of this chapter)