Brilliance (24 page)

She stared at him in shock. This man understood her far too well. She needed to get away from his penetrating insights as quickly as possible. ‘You’re letting your imagination run away with you,’ she scoffed lightly. ‘Goodbye, Daniel. I wish you a safe journey home to England.’

She entered the gaslit hallway of the apartment building and closed the door after her. Heedless of the cold wind, he remained on the steps until the image of her through the panel of frosted glass had vanished from his sight.

I
t was after the theatre one night that Michel brought Lisette home and stayed for a glass of wine, saying that he had to talk seriously with her. She steeled herself, guessing that it would be some kind of ultimatum.

‘It’s high time we were officially engaged, Lisette,’ he began firmly, his expression intense. ‘You know how much I love you and I’ve been patient so long. After Christmas, when we’re in Paris for the first public showing of the Lumière Cinematograph, let me take you to Cartier’s. There you can chose whichever ring you like best.’

She had to admit to herself that their lives had become more intertwined than ever during recent weeks. In her own mind she believed it had come about on her part as a defence against the disruption Daniel wanted to bring into her life and she would not let that happen. As a result it had become difficult to think of a future without Michel, but as yet she still did not want to marry. Sometimes her own unsatisfied desires and his amorousness would have made it very easy to melt into his arms, for he was a highly attractive and virile man, but if she took him as a lover his possessiveness would curtail her freedom as much as if they were married.

‘No, Michel,’ she stated firmly. ‘We’re going to Paris to see the show and enjoy being there together as friends, just as we enjoy each other’s company here in Lyon.’

‘What are you saying?’ he exclaimed, throwing out his hands in exasperation. ‘You know there’s much more than friendship between us, although I hardly see you these days. You’re either at work or rehearsing for a new role with the amateur dramatic society or doing charity work at the orphanage or meeting friends and so forth!’

It was true she had become more and more absorbed in the life of the city. In her constant yearning for her daughter, which never left her, she found that assisting with the children at the local orphanage helped her emotionally, for at least she could give loving care to them. Yet she could not explain the reason to him. She sighed inwardly as he continued to talk severely to her.

‘I thought when you agreed that we should go to Paris together that it meant we were moving towards a new phase in our relationship.’

Originally she had intended to go on her own to Paris, but upon hearing of her proposed trip Michel had immediately wanted to accompany her. It was why she had been able to tell Daniel that he would be with her. But now Michel seemed to be reading more into the proposed visit than she wished, clearly believing that at last she was going to let him sleep with her.

From the moment the Lumières had first spoken of the public showing of their animated pictures in Paris she had been particularly eager to attend. She wanted to see for herself how ordinary people would react to this new phenomenon to which she felt so closely linked through her association with Daniel as well as the Lumières. It was the reason why she had worked extra hours in order to have three days off to visit Paris.

‘I know I’m defying convention in not having a chaperone wherever I go, Michel,’ she answered, ‘but I’m one of a whole new breed of educated working women and rules are changing fast to give us the freedom that has long been denied us. You and I have a very good relationship, but, as I’ve told you before, you will have to look elsewhere for someone – to marry.’ She caught her breath, for she had almost said ‘to sleep with’, but she was sure he did that anyway.

He groaned. Her very elusiveness was a constant incitement to his passion and he was angry with her. ‘There’s nobody else I want or ever will!’

‘That’s what you think at the present time, but if I disappeared from your life there would be plenty of women ready to take my place.’

She had learned a great deal about the world since her days of innocence at the château. If she had chosen to take him as a lover there would not have been any fear of pregnancy, for Claudine at the emporium had told her ways to avoid that happening again. Yet her independence was all-important to her and, more and more, she liked being in charge of her own life.

On the twenty-seventh of December, which was the day before the Lumière show, Lisette and Michel arrived in Paris. She was excited to be there again and, as a cab took them to their hotel, she looked eagerly left and right at the passing streets. There had been a time when Philippe might have haunted the city for her, but that was long gone.

All the old familiar sights and sounds seemed to welcome her back. There were far more motorcars about than ever before, but otherwise there was almost no change. Michel had booked accommodation at one of the best hotels and she found that they had adjoining suites. No doubt he still cherished hopes that champagne and excitement would soften her attitude towards him. She checked that the communicating double doors were locked on her side.

For the rest of the crisp, cold day and at her request, they retraced steps that were familiar to her and it was as if she had never been away. To her relief Michel did not suggest again that they visit Cartier, and nothing spoiled their time together. In the evening they dined at one of the most fashionable nightspots and she felt that she was surely glowing with happiness at being in Paris again. Maybe she was, because Michel seemed unable to take his eyes from her. Later he did tap on the communicating door, but when there was no response he did not persist.

The first showing to the general public of the Lumière Cinematographic was to be held at the Grand Cafe on the Boulevard des Capucines. It was the first of the morning performances, with twenty or more to be shown throughout the day with a break at noon and in the early evening. As Lisette was anxious not to be late, she and Michel arrived in good time. Admission was one franc. They paid and were shown to a flight of stairs that led down to the exotic gold and crimson Indian room with its rush mats and ornamentation of elephant tusks and draped silks. A white canvas screen had been erected and gilded chairs lined up in rows. It was a small auditorium and Lisette saw immediately that Daniel was not there. Monsieur Lumière came forward to greet them.

‘
Bonjour
, Lisette, Monsieur Ferrand! A pleasure! Welcome! It’s good to see you both here.’

‘I’m sure this day will be a great success,’ Lisette declared warmly.

His eyes twinkled. ‘Thank you, Lisette. Do take seats wherever you please. We shall soon be starting the performance.’

He was the only member of the family present. It was his great day and he was full of optimism. He and his sons had already tasted success with their Lumière camera, for during the summer there had been successful demonstrations to scientific and photographic societies. These had been held in Lyon and Brussels as well as Paris, resulting in high acclaim, and many orders had been placed by members of these societies for cameras from the prototype. Yet so far in the Indian room few of the general public had arrived and there were many empty seats. The projectionist exchanged a concerned glance with his assistant.

Lisette and Michel had just settled themselves at the end of the third row when Daniel arrived. He paused in the richly draped doorway, seeming to fill it with his height and breadth of shoulder. He saw her at once and grinned triumphantly. Then, after exchanging greetings with Monsieur Lumière, he came across to her, swinging his wide-brimmed black hat in his hand and with his scarf and coat loosened. Oblivious to Michel’s presence, he seated himself beside her and tossed his hat on to a spare chair to take her gloved hands in both of his.

‘Lisette! How good to see you!’ he exclaimed exuberantly. ‘I was sure you would be here! How’s life? Have you given in your notice at the Lumière factory?’

She raised her eyebrows in amusement. ‘Of course not! I worked extra hours to get the chance to come to Paris for today’s show.’ Here she placed a hand on Michel’s arm. ‘You haven’t met Monsieur Ferrand. Let me introduce you.’

The two men shook hands. ‘This is a great day for the Lumières,’ Michel said.

‘Indeed it is!’ Daniel endorsed fervently. ‘Being the great businessmen that they are, they have taken the right step at the right time with this show today. From what I’ve heard on the grapevine there are plenty of newly invented moving picture cameras about to be launched here and there, and some have had very minor showings. Nothing on this scale.’

‘When are you going to hold a public viewing of your moving pictures, Daniel?’ Lisette asked.

‘In six weeks’ time at a hall I’ve hired in London. But my best work has yet to come.’

‘What of your friend, Friese-Greene?’ She always felt sympathy for that inventor struggling alone towards his lonely goal of colour.

‘The only show he has given to the general public was late on the night when his motion pictures proved to be perfect at last. In his excitement he rushed out of his laboratory into the street, intending to gather in an audience, but the only person around was a policeman and he hauled him in to sit down and watch the result! The constable could not believe his eyes and investigated behind the screen to see what trickery was at work.’

She laughed. ‘Perhaps that will happen here today. Do you remember how those lantern slides of a baby crying always outraged women in the audience?’

He grinned. ‘Yes, until the baby smiled again. We had some fun with those fast slides.’

‘Have you a definite site for your moving picture studio yet?’

‘Yes, it’s on the outskirts of a resort named Hothampton. You’ll approve the site when you see it, I’m sure.’

She became aware of Michel making a restless move beside her, but pretended not to notice. ‘I haven’t any plans to go to England in the foreseeable future,’ she said firmly.

Daniel’s face tightened, making a nerve throb in his temple. ‘I thought when I saw you here today that you had decided to join me in my enterprise.’ Then, as she shook her head, he lowered his voice. ‘I hope you haven’t made a foolish promise to anyone else since I saw you last. You had made one terrible mistake when I first met you, Lisette. For God’s sake, don’t make another one now!’

His audacity almost took her breath away and she thought with annoyance that he still expected to sweep everything before him. ‘We’ll talk later. The show will start any minute now.’ Then she turned deliberately to Michel and explained that Daniel had previously offered her the chance to appear in his moving pictures. ‘I refused, of course,’ she added quickly, seeing his thunderous frown.

Only a few more newcomers had entered to settle themselves. Some women looked nervous, seating themselves on the edge of their chairs, for few of those present, if any, had the slightest idea of what they were to see at this morning’s show, except that it was a kind of advanced magic lantern show. Half the seats were still empty when the assistant stood ready to lower the lights. Although Michel seemed mollified, Lisette could sense Daniel’s angry tension as keenly as if she were seated next to white-hot burning coals.

Monsieur Lumière moved to stand in front of the screen and gave a short explanatory talk. Then the lights were lowered and the only sound was the click-click of the camera’s handle being turned as the screen leapt into life. Immediately the audience gasped with amazement. The pictures really were moving!

The programme had plenty of variety. There were the Lumière factory girls pouring out through the gates in their flower-garden hats and the amusing sight of a toddler, whom Lisette recognized as little Andrée, daughter of Auguste and Marguerite, trying to catch a goldfish in a bowl. In between each episode there was a short pause while the camera was reloaded with the next minute-long film and the audience sat in stunned silence, scarcely able to believe what they had seen. Now they were viewing a garden and there came a burst of laughter from all in the auditorium as a gardener peered into the nozzle of a hose, not realizing that somebody had stepped on the supply, and then a moment later drenched himself. The arrival of a train in a station brought hysterical screams from the women, who threw themselves out of their seats in terror that they were to be crushed until they saw that it had come to a halt and passengers were milling about, even little children too. Afterwards there were more placid scenes, such as those taken in a street with passing traffic and many pedestrians, all of whom had passed the cameraman without as much as a glance of curiosity and which made for a totally natural effect. More of the Lumière entertainment followed and altogether lasted about twenty-five minutes.

As the lights went on again there was a great burst of applause as all rose from their seats in a standing ovation, people exclaiming excitedly. Monsieur Lumière bowed, beaming on them all. His dream for himself and his sons, which had started with his viewing of Edison’s kinetoscope, had come true. He accepted the praise and congratulations of the small but excited audience as they left the lounge. Finally only Lisette, Michel and Daniel remained. Monsieur Lumière turned to them.

‘Today,’ Daniel said, ‘has seen the start of something that will encompass the whole world. My sincere congratulations, Monsieur Lumière.’

‘Thank you, Monsieur Shaw,’ he replied, quietly confident, a twinkle in his genial eyes. Then, after Lisette and Michel had both given their congratulations, he added, ‘I think the word will spread out of here to draw another audience back this afternoon and so it will go on and on in ever increasing circles.’

As Lisette with her two escorts passed through the Grand Cafe it was as Monsieur Lumière had predicted. People from the audience were telling perfect strangers excitedly about the marvel they had seen. Outside it was the same. On the pavement bystanders were stopping to listen as dramatic descriptions were given about what had been shown on a screen. Some of those emerging from the Grand Cafe had already purchased tickets to go again in the afternoon, saying that the wonders of the cinematograph could not be fully taken in at one sitting.