In early December 1880, Lionel finally managed to free himself from various urgent matters and began seriously considering a major issue concerning his future quality of life –
Purchasing a summer villa of his own.
Although the apartment at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain was spacious and comfortable, as his fame grew and his social circle continuously expanded, it increasingly resembled a constantly bustling salon.
He no longer wanted to frequently experience the sight of guests overflowing and barely any room to stand on weekend afternoons.
More importantly, Paris's suffocating stench in summer had forced him to find ways to escape the city for the past two summers, and he did not want to repeat this process next year.
He could no longer always have Patty and Alice stay at Zola's Médan; he needed his own "sanctuary" and a place to entertain guests.
He wrote to Monsieur Delaroque about this idea.
For a senior notary, property buying, selling, and transfer were traditional businesses, so he immediately arranged to meet Lionel at his office.
Delaroque took out his notepad, dipped his quill pen in ink, and asked,
"So, Lionel, what are your specific requirements for the villa?"
Lionel organized his thoughts:
"First, there must be enough space. It doesn't have to be extremely large, but there should be plenty of rooms.
Not only to accommodate our daily living, but also to have extra guest rooms, as my parents and sister will also visit Paris.
In addition, there must be a living room or garden suitable for entertaining many friends. You know, like Monsieur Zola's Médan."
Delaroque nodded, indicating understanding; a popular writer indeed needed such social space.
Lionel continued:
"Second, the environment must be quiet and secluded, with good air quality, preferably near woods or a river.
This way, one can effectively avoid Paris's terrible summer air."
Delaroque said while taking notes:
"Naturally, this is the primary consideration for all clients looking for a summer villa. So, regarding the budget?"
Lionel had already calculated clearly:
"A total budget not exceeding 20,000 francs."
He paused and explained:
"Properties in central Paris are too expensive, easily 50,000 or 100,000 francs. I don't want to tie up a large amount of cash in a house for now.
Business investments still require funds. Therefore, the target is the suburbs, but transportation should not be too inconvenient, preferably with a railway connection to Paris."
Delaroque quickly filtered through suitable locations in his mind.
The western high-ground areas like Passy, Auteuil, Neuilly, although their environment is good, their prices are far beyond the budget;
Traditional aristocratic areas such as Versailles and Saint-Germain-en-Laye are also quite expensive.
His gaze fell on the upper reaches of the Seine, that area northwest of Paris, beloved by Impressionist painters and increasingly favored by the middle class.
"I understand, Monsieur Sorel. A budget of 20,000 francs, a quiet environment, relatively convenient transportation, and enough space to entertain guests.
I will immediately look for suitable properties, mainly concentrated in the upper reaches of the Seine, around Villeneuve, Médan, and Argenteuil.
There are railways connecting to Paris Saint-Lazare station, with a commute time of approximately forty minutes to an hour; the scenery is pleasant in summer, and the air is fresh."
Lionel was very satisfied with Delaroque's understanding:
"Excellent, please proceed with the search in this direction."
Sure enough, within a few days, Delaroque sent a messenger with a message, saying he had found a property in Villeneuve and invited him to inspect it as soon as possible.
On a chilly winter morning, Lionel and Delaroque traveled together by train from Saint-Lazare station.
The carriage swayed, outside the window was the bleak winter landscape of the Parisian suburbs.
After about forty minutes, they alighted at Villeneuve station.
The small town stretched along the banks of the Seine, tranquil and peaceful, as if it were a world apart from bustling Paris.
Delaroque led Lionel for a walk through several quiet streets, arriving in front of a walled detached house.
Delaroque took out a key and opened the wrought-iron gate:
"This is it."
What first caught Lionel's eye was a front garden, not very large but neat.
As it was winter, the flowers and plants had withered, but several tall plane trees and a patch of trimmed bushes indicated that it had been maintained not long ago.
A gravel path led to the main entrance of the house.
The house itself was a two-story masonry building; its exterior was not particularly ornate, but it appeared very sturdy and substantial.
The pitched roof was covered with dark slate tiles, giving it a simple and understated look.
Delaroque opened the door while providing 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 live permanently in Lyon, are eager to sell off properties around Paris, so the asking price is very reasonable."
They entered the house.
The ground floor had a spacious entrance hall connected to a sufficiently large living room, which featured a bay window, facing the garden at the back.
Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, making it very bright even in winter.
Next to the living room was the dining room; further in were the kitchen and a small servant's room; in addition, there were separate toilets, washrooms, and bathrooms.
Delaroque pointed out:
"The size of the living room and dining room is sufficient for you to host small gatherings of a dozen people."
Lionel nodded, already imagining the scene in summer, with the doors to the garden open, and Maupassant, Zola, and others chatting both indoors and outdoors.
They went up to the second floor via the stairs.
There were four bedrooms here; the master bedroom was quite spacious, with a small dressing room.
The other three bedrooms were of moderate size and could be used as rooms for Alice and Patty, as well as guest rooms.
Delaroque added:
"The attic space is also considerable and could be converted into a study or a storage room."
What pleased Lionel most was the garden at the back of the house.
Larger than the front garden, it extended to a quiet path, and a tributary of the Seine could be seen in the distance.
In the garden was a dried-up small fountain base and a somewhat weathered gazebo.
Delaroque said:
"The riverbank by the garden is also within the property boundaries. Setting up tables and chairs here in summer would be an absolute delight.
And you see, the neighboring villas are all some distance away, ensuring good privacy and sufficient seclusion."
Lionel inspected the house thoroughly, inside and out, once more.
The house was well-maintained and could be moved into with a little cleaning and furnishing.
The location also met his requirements — away from Paris's stench, near the Seine, a quiet environment, and the train station was within walking distance, making travel to and from Paris not troublesome.
Lionel asked:
"Is the title clear? Are there any disputes? Such as a court auction or similar..."
Delaroque replied affirmatively:
"It has been preliminarily checked and is very clear. The heirs have fully entrusted a Parisian lawyer to handle it, and all documents are complete.
The asking price is 19,000 francs; I believe there's still a little room for negotiation, and the final selling price is expected to be between 18,000 and 18,500 francs.
Completely within your budget."
This price completely captivated Lionel's heart — 18,000 francs, which could be fully paid for by one year's dividends from 'The Chorus'.
This money would not affect his investments in typewriters, bicycles, and other businesses.
Lionel no longer hesitated:
"Excellent, Monsieur Delaroque, I think this place is very suitable.
Please negotiate with the seller on my behalf, finalize the contract as soon as possible, I hope to complete all formalities before next spring."
Delaroque's face showed a professional smile:
"Glad to be of service, Monsieur Sorel, I believe this property will be a very wise investment for you.
Whether for your health, or for your future social life and creative work."
He suddenly remembered something and added:
"After Christmas, a 'power plant' belonging to 'Edison Electric Light Company' will be established in this vicinity.
If you want to install 'electric lights' in this new residence, you can contact them."
Lionel: "Hmm?"
(End of chapter)