Returning from "Charpentier's Bookshelf," Lionel's mood was no longer heavy.
Although he was certainly displeased to learn he had been inexplicably backstabbed by two pro-republican publishers;
Yet, the thought of the cooperation plan he had just finalized with Georges Charpentier made the corners of his mouth involuntarily curl upwards.
Hachette and Belin had gone to great lengths to create such a large pie; if he didn't seize the chance to take a big slice for himself, wouldn't his 140 years of accumulated knowledge be utterly wasted?
Whether or not his article was selected for "French Reader" wasn't actually that important...
Another gain was that Georges Charpentier had agreed to sign a royalty-sharing agreement with him for the standalone volume of "The Peculiar Affairs of Benjamin Boudon."
An initial royalty of 12%, which could float up to 18%—tomorrow he would have his notary liaise with Charpentier's notary.
But when Lionel returned home, he noticed an unusual silence in the living room.
Normally, at this time, there would either be the clatter of Alice typing on her keyboard, or the quiet hum of Paty singing as she prepared a late-night snack in the kitchen.
(TL: I will use "Paty" from now on)
One might even hear Debussy's piano music echoing in the air.
But tonight, he saw Paty and Alice sitting side-by-side on the sofa, both with their heads bowed, shoulders tense.
Paty's small body was curled into a ball, her fingers tightly twisting the edge of her apron.
Alice, too, was worried, her azure eyes filled with unease, and she was the first to stand up:
"Good evening, Lion."
Paty also stood up, but couldn't speak, only letting out a small sob.
Lionel's heart sank slightly.
Over the past year, he had almost grown accustomed to the increasing rosiness and smiles on Paty's face.
The girl who, a year ago, was pale and frail, her eyes as frightened as a tiny mouse's, had stubbornly blossomed under the nourishment of ample food and the shelter of a good home.
She had grown considerably taller, her hair had gained a luster, and not only could she cook wonderfully, but she could even play simple melodies on the piano.
What had clouded the child's face with gloom again?
Lionel walked to the armchair by the fireplace and sat down:
"What happened? Paty, has someone been bullying you?"
Paty shook her head vehemently, but her tears fell even more profusely, choking back words.
Alice sighed:
"Lion, it's... it's Paty's mother. She came looking for you this afternoon."
Lionel frowned, that snobbish woman, like a vulture? He had never once defaulted on the 15 francs per month for "board"!
Lionel's voice turned cold:
"What did she say?"
Alice hesitated before answering:
"She... she said she heard others reading the newspaper, and that the state is about to implement a new law requiring all children Paty's age to go to school.
She asked... she asked what you planned to do? Whether to continue letting Paty stay here with you... or... or let Paty go home, and then... send her to school to 'receive an education'?"
Paty finally couldn't hold back, her voice filled with fear and grievance:
"She doesn't want me to go to school at all! Sir, you know! She just thinks I'm 'useful' now, and 15 francs a month is too cheap!
Last time I went home on my day off, I brought my brother some small cookies I baked, and she... she pressed me about what I eat here, what I do, how much money I get... When she heard I sometimes learn piano with Mr. Debussy, her eyes lit up!
She said... she said someone like me, if 'trained up a bit,' could be sold to a better... place..."
At this, Paty choked up again, her small shoulders trembling.
The nightmarish past seemed to assault her once more.
The warmth she found with Lionel was like a beautiful, fragile bubble, and her mother's appearance was like a sharp needle, ready to prick it at any moment.
Alice quickly put an arm around Paty's shoulder, comforting her softly, while explaining to Lionel:
"What her mother implied, both in and out of her words, was indeed that the money was too little.
She said that times are different now, and girls with 'skills' and 'upbringing' are more valuable... hinting that if you still wanted to keep Paty, you might... have to pay more.
Otherwise, she would 'act according to the law,' and as soon as the bill passed, she would take Paty back to 'school'."
Lionel's concern wasn't that the woman was demanding more money—for him now, money was actually a minor issue, which was why he hadn't even asked Paty's mother how much she wanted.
He knew she didn't care about her daughter's education at all, only seeing a "legal basis" to extort more money.
Lionel just felt that fate seemed to be mocking him—
He had originally been a supporter of the Ferry Laws; whether through interviews with journalists or in "The Chorus," he had cleared obstacles for the bill's passage.
But what was the result?
First, due to conflicts of interest, he was backstabbed by his republican "allies"; then, due to the bill's provisions, he was blackmailed by a foolish woman.
It was happiest when he was writing "Decadent City," a simple cash-on-delivery exchange...
Lionel did not immediately state his position.
He pondered for a moment, then turned to Paty, his gaze becoming exceptionally serious.
But his voice remained gentle:
"Paty, don't be afraid. Tell me, what do you think yourself? Setting aside your mother, setting aside any external demands, just ask your own heart—
Do you want to stay here, continue your current life and work, or... are you willing to go home and try the path of going to school and studying?"
Paty had almost no hesitation:
"I'll stay here! Mr. Lionel, please, don't make me go back! Here, I'm well-fed and warmly clothed, you and Miss Alice are good to me, and I can learn so many things...
Go home? Mama only hits and scolds me, makes me do endless chores, and then... then who knows when she'll sell me to someone I don't know! I know it!
I'd rather wipe floors, wash clothes, and cook here every day than go back! School... school might be good, but if Mama sends me there, it definitely won't be good!"
Hearing this answer, Lionel's tense nerves relaxed somewhat.
Undoubtedly, Paty's answer would be this, but he had to let Paty say it herself, to make her feel that her wishes were respected and heard.
Over the past year, Lionel had been subtly telling her that she had her own value, that her thoughts were important.
He reached out and gently patted Paty's head:
"I understand. As long as you wish to stay, this will always be your home. I will handle your mother. Don't worry, everything will be resolved."
He paused, then continued:
"But Paty, you must understand. Staying doesn't mean completely giving up learning. Education is important. Even if you don't go to public school, here, you will learn to read and write, and study arithmetic...
I hope that in the future, you will be more than just a kitchen maid, do you understand?"
Paty nodded vigorously:
"I understand, sir! I want to learn! I will study hard! I want to become... become the 'respectable Miss Paty' you spoke of!"
Lionel smiled:
"Very good. Then leave this matter to me. Alice, take Paty to wash her face, then have her check the kitchen for anything to eat. I think everyone needs a bit of hot soup to calm down."
Alice sighed in relief, a smile appearing on her face, and she quickly led the profusely grateful Paty out of the living room.
Lionel sat alone in the armchair, beginning to ponder.
Dealing with this matter wasn't as simple as just paying more money to resolve it completely.
That woman was insatiably greedy; if she succeeded this time, she would find new excuses next time.
He had to use legal means to pull Paty out of that mire once and for all.
He stood up, returned to his study, pulled out a sheet of letter paper, and dipped his quill into the ink.
He needed to write a few letters and schedule some meetings first—Parisian law and administration were like a labyrinth, and he needed a reliable guide.
And first, he needed to make a certain greedy woman understand that not every scheme she tried would succeed.
(End of Chapter)