Brilliance by Rosalind Laker

Author:Rosalind Laker [Laker, Rosalind]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
Published: 2007-04-03T14:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Michel could not understand why Lisette would not allow him to make a claim for her on the Bellecour house, but in her own mind she had visions of Isabelle arriving in Lyon to contest it and, although it was highly unlikely, even Philippe making an appearance.

‘If you would let me know all the facts,’ Michel persisted, ‘I could easily take up the case for you. From what you have told me I know that your stepmother stopped your allowance simply because you left home to avoid marrying someone you could no longer trust.’ It was all Lisette had revealed about Philippe. ‘As I have said, I’m not at all sure that she had the legal right to stem it completely. At least let me look into the matter on your behalf.’

‘No,’ she said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. ‘My life is running smoothly at the present time and I want nothing to disrupt it.’

He had to accept her decision.

It was Michel who gave Lisette the news that the Lumière brothers had gone ahead with their father’s encouragement and had invented a camera, yet to be wholly perfected, which would take animated pictures and also project them. It filled her with thoughts of Daniel. She wondered how advanced he was now with his invention? Had the Lumière brothers left him far behind?

Then, one warm, late summer day Auguste came into her office on a tour of the whole factory to make an announcement. He had the attention of all the bookkeepers immediately, but he considered what he had to say important enough to summon the clerks from the adjacent office and they crowded together at the back and sides of the room.

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he began. ‘Tomorrow when you leave the factory at the end of the day’s work you will see my brother outside. He will be turning the handle of a wooden box mounted on a tripod. It is a very special camera that takes animated pictures and also projects them on to a screen or wall. He will be taking pictures of you that will capture your every movement.’

There was a buzz of surprise and interest. Lisette listened in dismay. So the Lumière brothers were to be first after all! She did not begrudge them their success, but she had never lost her high hopes for Daniel. Almost unaware of it, she rose to her feet.

‘I offer my congratulations, Monsieur Auguste, but I have understood from what I have read and also heard that smooth projection has been the great hurdle that has so far been impossible to overcome. May I ask if you have mastered that problem?’

He gave her a sharp look of interest, not having expected anyone to have any real knowledge of the workings of a motion picture camera. ‘You are quite correct, Mademoiselle Decourt. It has been an enormous hurdle for many would-be inventors, including my brother and myself, because the resulting jerkiness has made the photographs virtually impossible to watch without eyestrain.

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