Lionel looked at his old jacket and worn leather shoes, didn't argue further, and simply turned and left the apartment building.
In this era, no matter the country, people wore their class on their sleeves; there was no such thing as being "low-key."
The "Haussmann Building" was generally inhabited by the middle class, affluent middle class, as well as small wealthy merchants and minor aristocrats newly arrived in Paris.
Naturally, they were extra wary of the shabbily dressed Lionel.
Even though the apartment had an "Apartment for Rent" advertisement in the newspaper, not everyone could enter the building under that pretext.
However, Lionel had his own "secret trouble"—at least at this stage, he didn't want his classmates to know he had made a small fortune, as it was currently difficult to explain the source of the money.
He chose the 9th arrondissement because it was separated from the 5th arrondissement, where the Sorbonne was located, by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements, and it wasn't one of the 6th or 7th arrondissements where university students liked to gather and socialize.
The chance of running into acquaintances was small.
But upon reflection, since he was going to live in the "Haussmann Building," wearing such shabby clothes would only make him stand out more.
It would be better to acquire new clothes, and simply change back into his old ones each time he went to the Sorbonne for class.
Since the 9th arrondissement had an opera house, it was naturally an area where actors and literary figures gathered, and there were many tailor shops.
Many apartment buildings had rows of shops on the ground floor, not unlike the street-level businesses of later generations.
Lionel wandered around near the opera house and finally found a "Duset Tailor Shop" whose signboard wasn't inlaid with gold or aristocratic flourishes.
He felt the 200 francs cash he had prepared in his pocket and strode in.
Fifteen minutes later, Lionel emerged in his original attire, followed by the tailor's assistant politely saying,
"Welcome again next time."
Because his original body hadn't bought even a new vest during his two years in Paris, the current Lionel lacked a concept of Parisian fashion prices.
The assistant at "Duset Tailor Shop" wasn't snobbish; instead, he eagerly introduced the prices of full suits that fit "middle-class aesthetics"—
A mid-length wool-blend lapel coat, 80 francs; a slim-fit single-breasted wool top, 40 francs; a double-breasted small vest, 20 francs; a shirt also 20 francs; a pair of narrow-cut trousers, popular among university students now, 30 francs; a pair of genuine leather shoes, 30 francs.
Adding it all up, it was already 220 francs, which was more than the cash in Lionel's pocket—and this was just the price for basic items.
If customisation was needed, additional fees would apply, for example, adding a secret pocket to the coat would cost 3 francs.
In addition to those, there were essential accessories: scarves, hats, canes, gloves...
In short, to appear as a respectable business manager, engineer, or a moderately famous writer or actor, it simply couldn't be done without 300 francs.
Once again, Lionel experienced the terrible "Paris tax" that the French spoke of; 300 francs was enough for him to live in Madame Martin's apartment for a whole year.
Lionel really couldn't bring himself to spend that much.
Fortunately, the "considerate" assistant quietly slipped him a business card, directing him to a second-hand clothing store on "Rue Saint-Antoine" where he could find the clothes he needed.
One hour later, Lionel had changed into a "new outfit" for 120 francs—
A dark indigo wool short coat, exquisitely tailored with natural shoulder lines, slightly faded at the cuffs and collar but washed clean and bright; inside, an off-white shirt with buttons in the old style of the Second Empire, slightly wrinkled at the chest like paper turning in the wind;
Over it, a navy pinstriped wool waistcoat, neatly buttoned; the trousers were grey-green twill, with clean lines, only slight scuff marks at the knees which were almost invisible after ironing;
On his feet, a pair of black leather shoes, not new, but polished to a shine, with some minor creases on the vamp.
He didn't choose gloves or a cane, opting only for a round felt hat, so as not to appear too old-fashioned.
The owner of "Second Life Apparel" told Lionel that the coat, vest, and trousers in this outfit came from a fallen nobleman, hence their excellent craftsmanship.
He had merely helped remove the family crests.
Lionel, of course, didn't believe the story, but he was very satisfied with the clothes.
The owner had cleaned them thoroughly, with no strange smells or suspicious stains, making them a fine example of second-hand clothing—the key was that wearing this to school wouldn't be as conspicuous as brand-new clothes; perhaps only a few bored classmates would mock him a little.
Neatly dressed, Lionel returned to the apartment building at 12 Rue d'Antin, next to the Paris Opera House.
This time, he only briefly stated his purpose, and the doorman stepped aside and bowed slightly:
"Welcome, sir.
The administrator is on the left side of the ground floor lobby.
May I continue to be of service to you!"
His tone was devout, as if he had never seen Lionel—even though he had blocked Lionel from entering just two hours earlier.
Lionel was already accustomed to this, nodded without a ripple, and went straight to the building administrator to request to view an apartment.
The administrator was an old man with white hair and sharp eyes, sporting a huge handlebar mustache connected to his sideburns that completely covered his mouth, making him mumble when he spoke, as if he had a mouthful of water.
He looked Lionel up and down:
"Our apartments, the second floor is the most expensive, the fifth floor is the cheapest.
Which floor would you like to see, sir?"
Since elevators were not yet common in Parisian buildings, the most expensive floors in most residential buildings were on the second floor, boasting the highest ceilings and protruding balconies with iron railings.
Rental prices decreased progressively from the second floor upwards.
By the sixth floor, there were servant's quarters and single attic rooms, usually rented by young maids or students, but even then, it would cost 40 to 50 francs per month.
Lionel briefly stated his acceptable rent and living requirements.
After a moment's thought, the administrator led Lionel directly to the fifth floor, then took a set of keys from his waist and opened the door to an apartment.
"This apartment has two bedrooms, and a small study, a kitchen, a living room, and a sitting room are also included.
The bathroom has a direct-flush toilet.
And here—"
The administrator said, opening the window of the inner balcony.
Lionel walked to the window and saw the golden dome of the opera house sparkling in the mist not far away.
"The floor of this apartment has just been waxed, and all the furniture is new...
The rent is a generous 90 francs per month, plus an additional 5 francs per month for tap water.
If you require meal service, delivering meals to your room costs 80 francs per month; dining in the ground floor restaurant costs 50 francs per month."
Amidst the administrator's rambling introduction, Lionel inspected the apartment inside and out and was quite satisfied with it.
Although it was on a high floor, the price was a bit cheaper than he had expected, and it had the advantages of convenient transportation and new furniture; it even had gas lamps, so he wouldn't need to add anything extra himself.
Considering the average rent in the Haussmann Building in the 9th arrondissement, the administrator had not overcharged.
So, after a moment of thought, he decided to rent it.
After paying a 40-franc deposit, Lionel signed a one-year lease agreement.
Stepping out of the building, he looked at his clothes, then turned back to gaze at the towering apartment building.
For the first time, he felt destiny quietly beginning to turn here.
(End of Chapter)
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