Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 308 A cunning rabbit has three burrows, and so do literary giants!

In early December 1880, Lionel was finally able to extricate himself from various pressing matters and begin to seriously consider a major issue concerning his future quality of life—

Buy your own summer villa.

Although his apartment at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain was spacious and comfortable, as his fame grew and his social circle expanded, it increasingly resembled a bustling salon.

He didn't want to experience that scene of packed houses and barely enough room to move around on weekend afternoons again.

More importantly, the suffocating stench of Paris in the summer made him try to escape the city for the past two summers, and he doesn't want to repeat that process next year.

He could no longer let Petit and Alice stay at Zola's Médan; he needed his own "refuge" and place to entertain guests.

He wrote to Mr. De La Ruwak about this idea.

For a seasoned notary, real estate transactions and transfers are traditional business, and he immediately met with Lionel at his firm.

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De La Ruwak took out his notebook, dipped the tip of his quill pen in ink, and said, "So, Lionel, what are your specific requirements for the villa?"

Lionel summarized his thoughts: "First, the space needs to be sufficient, not necessarily very large, but there should be more rooms."

It needs to accommodate not only our daily living space, but also additional guest rooms, as my parents and sister will also be visiting Paris.

In addition, there must be a living room or garden large enough to host gatherings of many friends. You know, like Médan in Mr. Zola's garden.

De La Ruvak nodded in understanding; a popular writer certainly needs such social space.

Lionel continued, "Secondly, the environment must be quiet and the air must be fresh, preferably near a forest or river."

This is the best way to avoid the terrible air quality in Paris during the summer.

As he took notes, De La Ruwak said, "That's natural; that's the first thing all clients looking for a summer villa consider. And what about the budget?"

Lionel had already calculated: "The total budget will not exceed 2 francs."

He paused and explained, “Properties in downtown Paris are too expensive, often costing 5 or 10 francs. I don’t want to put a lot of cash on property for the time being.”

Business investments require capital. Therefore, the target location is the suburbs, but transportation cannot be too inconvenient; ideally, there should be a rail connection to Paris.

De La Ruwak quickly filtered through his mind for locations that met his criteria.

While the western highlands of Passi, Otej, and Nej offer excellent environments, their prices far exceed the budget.
Traditional aristocratic areas like Versailles and Saint-Germain-en-Laye are also quite expensive.

His gaze fell on the upper reaches of the Seine, in the area northwest of Paris that was favored by Impressionist painters and increasingly popular among the middle class.

"I understand, Mr. Sorel. The budget is 2 francs, the environment is quiet, the transportation is relatively convenient, and there is enough space to entertain guests."

I will immediately keep an eye out for suitable properties, mainly concentrated in the upper Seine, in Verneve, Médan, and Argenteuil.

There is a train line from there to Paris Saint-Lazare station, with a commute time of approximately forty minutes to an hour. The scenery is pleasant and the air is fresh in the summer.

Lionel was pleased with De La Ruwak's understanding: "Very good, let's look in this direction."

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Sure enough, a few days later, De La Ruvak sent a message saying that he had found a property in Vernev and invited him to come and see it as soon as possible.

On a cold winter morning, Lionel and De la Ruyvac boarded a train together at the San Lazar station.

The train swayed, and outside the window lay the bleak winter landscape of the Parisian countryside. About forty minutes later, they got off at the Villeneuve station.

The town stretches along the banks of the Seine, quiet and peaceful, seemingly a world apart from bustling Paris.

De la Ruvak led Lionel on a short walk through several quiet streets to a walled detached house.

De La Ruvak took out his key and opened the wrought iron gate: "This is it."

The first thing that catches Lionel's eye is a not-so-large but well-organized front garden.

Because it was winter, the flowers and plants were withered, but several tall sycamore trees and a patch of trimmed shrubs indicated that the place had been tended to not long ago. A gravel path led to the main entrance of the house.

The house itself is a two-story brick and stone structure. Its appearance is not particularly gorgeous, but it looks very sturdy and stable.

The pitched roof is covered with dark slate tiles, giving it a simple and understated look.

As he opened the door, De La Ruyak explained the background information: "This villa was built during the Second Empire, and its original owner was a merchant who did business in Paris."

He passed away a few years ago, and his heirs, who have long resided in Lyon, are eager to sell their properties around Paris, hence the very attractive offer.

They went inside. On the first floor was a spacious foyer that connected to a large living room with a bay window that faced the garden at the back.

Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, making it bright even in winter.

Next to the living room is the dining room, and further in is the kitchen and a small maid's room; there is also a separate toilet, washroom and shower room.

De La Ruva pointed out, "The living room and dining room are big enough for you to host a small gathering of a dozen or so people."

Lionel nodded, already able to imagine the scene of Maupassant, Zola, and the others chatting indoors and outdoors in the summer, with the gate leading to the garden open.

They went up the stairs to the second floor. There were four bedrooms, the master bedroom being quite spacious and including a small dressing room.

The other three bedrooms are of moderate size and can be used as rooms for Alice and Petty, as well as guest rooms.

De La Ruwak added, "The attic space is also quite large and can be converted into a study or storage room."

What pleased Lionel most was the garden behind the house.

Larger than the forecourt, it extends to a quiet path with views of a tributary of the Seine in the distance.

In the garden, there is a small fountain base that has long since dried up, and a somewhat dilapidated gazebo.

"The riverbank next to the garden is also on the property," De La Ruwak said. "Setting up tables and chairs here in the summer would be a real treat."

And as you can see, the neighboring villas are all spaced a distance apart, offering excellent privacy and a tranquil atmosphere.

Lionel looked the house over carefully again, inside and out. The house was well-maintained and could be moved into after a little cleaning and furniture addition.

The location also met his requirements—away from the stench of Paris, close to the Seine, quiet environment, and within walking distance of the train station, making travel to and from Paris relatively easy.

Lionel asked, "Is the property right clear? Are there any disputes? For example, court auctions or the like..."

De La Roux answered affirmatively: "It has been preliminarily checked and is very clear. The heirs have entrusted lawyers in Paris to handle everything, and the documents are complete."

The asking price is 19,000 francs, but I think there's still some room for negotiation. The final price is expected to be between 18000 and 18500 francs.

It's completely within your budget.

This price completely won over Lionel – 18,000 francs, which could be covered by a year's share of the profits from "The Choir".

This money will not affect his investments in typewriters, bicycles, and other businesses.

Lionel no longer hesitated: "Very good, Mr. De La Ruwak, I think this place is very suitable."

Please negotiate with the seller on my behalf and finalize the contract as soon as possible. I hope to complete all the formalities before next spring.

De La Ruwak gave a professional smile: "It's my pleasure, Mr. Sorel. I believe this property will be a very wise investment for you."

Whether for your health, or for your future social and creative endeavors.

He suddenly remembered something and added, "After Christmas, a 'power plant' will be built in this area, belonging to the 'Edison Electric Light Company'."

If you want lights installed in this new house, you can contact them.

Lionel: "Hmm?"

(End of this chapter)