Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 306 A Minor Disagreement Among Scientific Giants!

After nearly a month's absence, on a weekend in late November 1880, Lionel finally returned to his apartment on the second floor of 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain.

Lionel gently pushed open the apartment door—he had expected a peaceful weekend afternoon, but the scene before him left him stunned at the doorway.

It felt like a small salon was being held in the living room.

Near the window, Debussy sat sideways at the piano, his fingers gently tracing the keys, producing a series of beautiful notes, like reflections on the Seine.

At the other end of the living room, Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré stood facing each other at a large desk, arguing heatedly.

Among them was Petty, who was hunched over with a blank look on her face, with a copy of "The Montiel Secrets (Mathematics)" open in front of her.

Henri Poincaré said in a high-spirited tone: "I maintain that this catch-up problem can be explained using the basic concepts of calculus."

This will help her better understand the essence of data changes!

Pierre Curie calmly shook his head: "No, Henri, for children of this age, introducing function graphs is more intuitive."

Look, the relationship between time and distance…

Petty blinked her big eyes and muttered softly, "But... Mr. Pierre, Mr. Henry... the question only asks when Pierre will catch up with Emily..."

Henri Poincaré and Pierre Curie glanced back at Petit together, and the little girl, startled, stuck out her tongue and shrank back, no longer daring to utter a sound.

In an armchair near the fireplace, Émile Perrin, the director of the Comédie-Française, was speaking in hushed tones with Monsieur de la Rocheaux, the notary.

On the small round table in front of them lay brandy and some documents. Emil Perrin looked distressed: "The box office at the Comedy Theatre last month was terrible..."

Mr. De La Ruwak said in a nonchalant tone: "I hope that the box office revenue sharing for 'The Choir' will be paid no later than Christmas..."

What surprised Lionel the most was the scene on the sofa—

Alice and Sophie sat side by side, a thick document spread out on their laps, whispering to each other.

Sophie would occasionally point to a line, while Alice listened and nodded, sometimes adding a few words.

Lionel's appearance attracted everyone's attention like a magnet.

Debussy was the first to stop playing, raise his head, and stand up from his chair;
Then, the debate between Curie and Poincaré came to an abrupt end;

Dean Perrin and Mr. Delarouca stopped talking;
Alice and Sophie also stood up at the same time.

Almost in unison, everyone in the living room uttered similar sentiments:

"Leonard!"

"Mr. Sorel!"

"Master!"

"You are finally back!"

Lionel put down his luggage, took off his hat and gloves, and looked exhausted: "It seems that this place is more lively than the comedy theater when I'm not here."

Like a rescued fawn, Petty burst out of the "encirclement" of the two great scientists and took Lionel's coat: "Young Master! You're finally back!"

Mr. De La Ruwak picked up a stack of documents from the table and came over first: "Lional, welcome back."

There are some urgent documents here that you need to sign, concerning the equity distribution of the typewriter and bicycle manufacturing companies and the first batch of overseas sales contracts.

Peugeot is pressuring us a lot.

As soon as he finished speaking, Dean Emil Perrin stood up, his face showing both anxiety and anticipation: "My dear Lionel, you've come back just in time!"
The Paris Opera is riding high on the success of "A Doll's House," and our Comedy Theatre needs a new play that can rival it!
"We can't wait any longer. Even if we miss Christmas, we must have a blockbuster for next spring's performance season!" Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré also came over, temporarily setting aside their mathematical dispute.

Henri Poincaré said excitedly, "Leon, we have some new calculations regarding the ball bearings in bicycles that may further reduce friction..."

Pierre Curie added, "And the linkage mechanism of typewriters, perhaps we could try a new alloy..."

Sophie and Alice also stood up, but did not immediately go forward.

Sophie gave Lionel a gentle smile, as if to say that she understood Lionel's current situation and that her matter could be discussed later.

Alice seemed a little embarrassed, as if some little secret had been exposed.

Even Debussy left the piano bench. He walked up to Lionel, his expression somewhat solemn: "Léon, I...I have something I want to talk to you about."

Lionel felt as if he had been crammed into the most crowded public carriage in Paris, surrounded by voices and demands from all sides.

He took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

He raised his hand and made a gesture to calm down: "Ladies and gentlemen, please forgive me for just getting off the train; the roar of the wheels is still echoing in my head."

Let's do it one thing at a time, okay?

He first looked at De La Rueke and Dean Perrin: "Mr. De La Rueke, Dean Perrin, regarding contracts and creative projects, we need quiet and focus."

Please have a moment, have a cup of coffee, I'll be right there.

He then said to Curie and Poincaré: "Pierre, Henri, technological improvements are very important, but we need to figure out first what we want to produce and for whom."

We'll discuss your calculations in more detail later; I promise it will be very interesting.

Finally, he turned his gaze to Debussy, his tone softening: "Achille, you seem to have something important to say."

"Give me ten minutes. Let me calm my apprentice, who's about to go crazy from all the catching-up problems, and then we can talk, okay?"

His arrangements were clear and decisive, temporarily calming the commotion in the living room.

De La Ruvak and Dean Perrin returned to the fireplace;

Although Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré were still engrossed in their mathematical problems, they temporarily stepped aside to continue their previous debate in hushed tones.

Lionel then walked to his desk, picked up Petty's copy of "The Montiel Secrets," and looked at the famous "pursuit problem."

He sighed, picked up a pencil, and drew a simple line on the draft paper.

"Patty, forget about calculus and functions."

Look, Pierre is here, and Emily is here.

Pierre walks fast, and the distance he approaches per hour is the difference in speed... Simple division, understand?

Petty stared at the simple line segment and equation, her eyes suddenly lighting up: "Oh! It's so simple! Thank you, young master!"

Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré each snorted, clearly dissatisfied with Lionel's overly simplistic way of thinking.

After dismissing Petit, Lionel walked toward Debussy, who had been waiting quietly, and the two stood by the window.

Debussy's voice was somewhat low: "Léon, I've come to say goodbye."

Lionel was surprised: "Saying goodbye? Where are you going?"

(End of this chapter)