This, however, was in Champagne, not in Provence.

Both families farmed vineyards for a once famous abbey in the vicinity of Epernay, early in the seventeenth century.

To me, personally, this trivial discovery meant a great deal.
It somehow aroused my interest in M.Zola and his works.

Of the latter I had then only glanced through two or three volumes.

With M.Zola himself I was absolutely unacquainted.