As a writer, I am mentally constructing a tragic story where she had that apartment as an 'entertaining' spot for a much beloved man (or woman) whom she never saw again due to the war, so she could not bear to enter the room again but could not bring herself to end the connections.
yes, I saw Porky, too. Interesting contrast to the heavy Louis XIV antiques.
You are clearly a romantic with your envisioned war romance story. As a cynical former New Yorker, I figured she had a “rent controlled” apartment and couldn’t afford NOT to continue paying its rent. For 68 years, no less! I wonder if she let others use it over those years? Gotta be a fascinating story there. Hope we learn it.
Intriguing theory. If you ever write it, I’d love to read it. :-)