Alice felt that she couldn't make it clear by just talking, so she simply said,
"How about this, Lionel, if you're free now, come with me to a place. You'll understand when you see it with your own eyes."
Lionel's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
He stood up, smiling, and said,
"Alright, I'd like to see what our Miss Alice has been up to behind my back."
Alice led Lionel away from the elegant apartment district of Boulevard Saint-Germain and turned into Mouffetard Street, which was noisy, crowded, but full of life.
This was a typical old Parisian quarter, with narrow streets, shops lining both sides, and the air filled with the smells of food, garbage, and sewage.
They walked through the bustling market and entered a dilapidated apartment building.
The stairwell was dim, and they went straight up the creaking wooden stairs, all the way to the fifth floor, the very top – where the rent was usually the cheapest.
Alice stopped in front of a wooden door with peeling paint and knocked.
The door opened quickly, and a haggard-looking middle-aged woman peeked out.
Seeing Alice, she immediately smiled,
"Ah, Teacher Rorschach, you're here!"
Only then did she notice Lionel behind Alice, and she immediately became a little reserved.
Alice introduced,
"Good afternoon, Madame Lobert, this is Lionel Sorel... I'd like him to see our 'cooperative'."
Hearing this, Madame Lobert immediately stepped aside to let Lionel in.
As Lionel stepped through the door, the sight before him instantly stunned him.
The apartment was very small and simply furnished, but in the living room, there were four Remington No. 2 typewriters neatly arranged! In front of each typewriter sat a middle-aged woman, engrossed in the manuscripts before them, their hands tapping on the keyboards, producing a rapid "clack-clack-clack" sound.
Seeing Alice enter, the four typists temporarily stopped their work and respectfully greeted her,
"Good afternoon, Teacher Rorschach!"
"Teacher Rorschach?"
This was the second time Lionel had heard someone call Alice by that name.
A blush appeared on Alice's face, a mix of pride and shyness.
Lionel didn't speak, but cautiously leaned closer and glanced at the content they were transcribing.
The manuscripts varied widely: handwritten bills, thick student theses, and even literary manuscripts.
Although some of the women's techniques were not yet highly skilled, they compensated with their meticulousness and patience.
Lionel turned his head and whispered,
"Is this what you meant in March, about lending Madame Lobert those 200 francs..."
Alice nodded, blushing, and quietly recounted her experiences during this period.
It turned out that, at that time, Lionel had agreed for Alice to lend her savings to Madame Lobert to buy a typewriter, and Alice patiently taught her how to use it.
Madame Lobert picked it up very quickly and was soon able to supplement her family's income by taking on various transcription odd jobs.
Typing speed and clarity far surpassed traditional handwriting, and Madame Lobert surprisingly repaid Alice's loan in less than two months.
But things didn't end there.
There were many other housewives in similar situations on Mouffetard Street, and seeing this "new way to make a living," they too became hopeful.
Madame Lobert picked up the conversation:
"Some of the sisters nearby, like Madame Vaillant, Madame Dupont... They saw that I could earn money to support my family with this, without having to do those tiring, low-paying odd jobs, and they were all very envious.
They also wanted to learn, but couldn't afford a typewriter. Miss Alice, being kind-hearted, lent the money to the next person. And so, one led to another..."
Alice nodded and continued,
"From May until now, over three months, we've gone from one typewriter to four here. Seven sisters have joined us.
We schedule shifts like a factory, with people working day and night to ensure the machines keep running. Initially, we only handled the transcription work from the Sorbonne that you introduced, but then..."
Madame Lobert excitedly added,
"Later, we proactively went to the shops and offices on Mouffetard Street, asking if they needed bills, contracts, or letters transcribed.
Our prices are cheaper than professional scribes, and typewriter script is clear and neat!
As a result, business has been incredibly good! Now, more than half of the transcription work on this street is handled by us!"
Alice's voice grew excited:
"On average, our daily income here is nearly 100 francs! After deducting typewriter wear and tear, and paper and ink costs... the money the ladies take home is even more than what their husbands earn!"
Another woman, who was typing, looked up and said with a smile,
"Yes, Teacher Rorschach brings us so much work, we can barely keep up! Now, at the end of the day, each of us can take home about 6 francs, and sometimes even 8 francs!"
This was indeed a rather astonishing figure, considering that a male factory worker, after a day of hard labor, earned no more than 3 to 5 francs.
Listening to Alice's narration and looking at the humble but vibrant little "typing cooperative" before him, Lionel felt a considerable shock.
He hadn't expected that his simple agreement, coupled with Alice's kindness and enthusiasm, would actually give birth to such an enterprise.
However, this was precisely one of the roles typewriters played in history – promoting women's entry into society and becoming professional working women.
The position of "typist" existed for over a hundred years, from the age of typewriters to the eve of internet popularization, consistently being one of the advantageous positions for women.
At this point, Alice's tone grew worried:
"But, more and more people want to join, and the existing four machines and Madame Lobert's apartment are no longer enough. Moreover, the volume of work is growing, taking orders, distributing, proofreading, collecting payments...
I alone won't be able to handle it soon, and it's prone to errors. This is only possible because I've had more free time in the past few months, after you finished writing 'A Study in Scarlet,' to look after this place."
Madame Lobert also sighed,
"We don't have much education, so when we encounter trouble, we don't know what to do. Just these past few days, a butcher reneged on payment, owing us 3 francs...
In the future, maybe we'll have to collect money upfront. As Miss Alice said, this can't go on; we need formal regulations. That's why she wanted to find a notary public, to ask what to do, how to set rules, and how to protect everyone."
Alice looked earnestly at Lionel:
"Lionel, I want to formally consult with Monsieur Delaroche— For a situation like ours, how should we best develop?
Should we continue with this loose cooperation, or should we register at the city hall?
Are there any related legal risks?
Do we need to pay any taxes?
Now it's the hope of so many people, and I hope it can last longer..."
Lionel looked at the light in Alice's eyes, and a complex mix of emotions welled up in his heart: surprise, admiration, and even a sense of relieved satisfaction.
He nodded solemnly,
"I understand, Alice – no, 'Teacher Rorschach' – this is indeed no small matter."
Looking around the small "cooperative," Lionel continued,
"You've done an excellent job, far exceeding my expectations. Tomorrow, we will go see Monsieur Delaroche. He will certainly be interested in everything you've created."
(End of Chapter)