Half an hour later, a crowd gathered along the riverbanks of the Seine to witness the steamship as it approached the dock. The paddlewheels propelled the vessel forward, and onlookers watched in curiosity as it made its way to its destination.
The Elite Consular Guard under the command of Bessierres, parted the crowds to make way for the First Consul's wife, Ciela, and their children to pass through.
Arriving at the riverbank, Ciela and the children were greeted by the sight of the impressive steamship slowly gliding toward the dock. There, they saw a familiar figure.
"That's Papa!" Aveline exclaimed, pointing at Napoleon, who was coming out of the steamship.
Napoleon, noticing his family waiting for him in the midst of the crowd, couldn't contain his joy. He waved back at them, a bright smile spreading across his face. The applause from the onlookers seemed to grow even louder as they witnessed the First Consul.
Following behind Napoleon was Antoine Lavoisier, and the two engineers, Sané and Borda. The steamship was moored, and Napoleon walked towards his awaiting family.
"So, that's what the gentlemen showed you, huh?" Ciela mused, glancing at the three men behind Napoleon. "A steamship."
"That's correct, and I must say that I am awed and impressed with their creations," Napoleon said, looking back at the engineers. "We'll see each other soon."
Sané and Borda bowed their heads in acknowledgment, grateful for the recognition from the First Consul.
"Monsieur Lavoisier," Napoleon's gaze shifted to Antoine.
"Yes, Your Excellency?" Antoine replied promptly, standing at attention.
"I want you to come to my office tomorrow morning. I have something important to talk to you about," Napoleon ordered.
Antoine nodded, acknowledging the importance of the meeting. "Of course, Your Excellency. I will be there first thing in the morning."
Napoleon smiled, satisfied with Antoine's prompt response. He then turned back to his family, who were still beaming with pride.
"Papa, that's unfair. Why didn't you bring us along?" Aveline pouted, crossing her arms in front of her.
Napoleon chuckled and knelt down to his daughter's eye level. "Oh, my dear Aveline, this steamship is an experimental prototype, and there are a lot of hazards that we need to be careful about. It's not safe for little ones like you to be on board just yet," he explained in a gentle tone.
"But I want to see it up close!" Aveline protested, her disappointment evident.
"Don't worry, my little one. Once it's safer and all the risks are taken care of, I promise we'll have a grand family adventure on the steamship," Napoleon assured her.
"Okay!" Aveline easily relented, her disappointment fading as she trusted her father's promise.
Napoleon stood and turned to the three gentlemen. "You all may go now, we are going to enjoy the rest of the exhibition."
And so they did, Napoleon resumed exploring the expedition, visiting every stall that showcased ingenious inventions. Some were practical, others were useless, but he remained curious and open-minded, eager to learn from the innovators and thinkers who displayed their ideas. Each display presented an opportunity to discover new technologies that could potentially benefit France's progress. He engaged with inventors, asking questions and offering words of encouragement.
Six o'clock in the evening, as the sun began to set, a new wonder unfolded before the crowd's eyes. Electric street lights illuminated the area, casting a soft glow on the bustling exhibition. Electric bulbs hoisted above began glowing, replacing the fading daylight.
As Napoleon observed the electric lights, he couldn't help but wonder about another kind of lighting that could add a touch of magic to the scene. Neon lighting came to his mind. Unlike electric bulbs, neon lights operate using a different mechanism.
Electric bulbs, also known as incandescent bulbs, work by passing an electric current through a filament, usually made of tungsten. This current heats up the filament to a high temperature, and the heat produces visible light.
On the other hand, neon lights operate using noble gases like neon, argon, or xenon. Inside a glass tube filled with these gasses, electrodes at each end of the tube create an electric discharge. This discharge excites the gas atoms, causing them to emit photons, which produce the glowing effect. Each noble gas produces its own distinct color; for example, neon produces a bright red glow, argon creates a blue light, and xenon can give off various hues, including white.
The problem is, where to get those gasses? Fortunately, Napoleon was aware of some sources where noble gases could be obtained and extracted. Neon, argon, and xenon, the three noble gases he had in mind, could be found in the Earth's atmosphere in small amounts. However, extracting these gasses required specialized techniques and equipment.
For neon, the most common method of extraction was through fractional distillation of liquid air. Since neon is lighter than oxygen and nitrogen, cooling the air to extremely low temperatures allowed for the separation of these gasses, and the neon could be collected as a byproduct.
Argon, on the other hand, was typically obtained as a byproduct of oxygen production. During the process of producing oxygen from liquid air, the argon would accumulate as a non-reactive gas, which could then be separated and collected.
Xenon extraction was more challenging due to its low abundance in the atmosphere. The most common method was through fractional distillation of liquid air, similar to neon, but the process needed to be more precise and extensive to obtain significant quantities of xenon.
Napoleon turned his attention back to his wife's voice, snapping out of his contemplation about noble gasses.
"Yes, my dear?" he responded warmly.
"I was just saying that it's getting late, and the children are getting tired. Perhaps it's time to head back home," Ciela said, smiling at her husband.
"You're right," Napoleon replied, glancing at the children, who were starting to yawn.
But just as Napoleon could accept the idea of going home, the event organizer of the exhibition approached them.
"Uhm, Your Excellency?"
"Yes?"
"We are wondering if we could invite you to make a speech for all of our attendees and participants in this exhibition? A short speech will do…"
Napoleon considered the request, understanding the significance of addressing the attendees and participants. This exhibition showcased the progress and potential of France, and as the First Consul, his words held weight and could inspire innovation and collaboration among the brightest minds in the nation.
After a moment of contemplation, Napoleon nodded graciously. "Of course, I would be honored to address everyone," he replied with a smile. "But let me speak with my wife first."
The event organizer beamed with delight.
"Darling, you heard him, I'll have to make a speech. I'll make it brief so that we can go home as soon as possible, okay?"
Ciela nodded, followed by Francis and Aveline.
After that, the event organizer led Napoleon to the platform. The event manager clapped his hands, trying to get the attention of all attendees and participants, signaling that the First Consul was about to make a speech.
The crowd fell into a hushed silence as all eyes turned toward the platform.
Napoleon took a deep breath, gathered his thoughts, and began to speak.
"Gentlemen and ladies, I must say, I am impressed by all of the inventions you have showcased in this expedition. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness the ingenuity and dedication of France's finest minds. As the First Consul, it is my duty to support and promote progress in all fields, and events like this remind me of the great potential that lies within our nation. Your creations, whether practical or ambitious, hold the promise of a brighter future for France and its people. That's all, I apologize for the short speech as my children over there are getting sleepy now."
His speech was met with laughter and applause from the attendees. Napoleon's ability to acknowledge the situation with humor and consideration for his children's well-being endeared him further to the crowd. He stepped down from the platform and made his way to his family.
"You don't have to mention them getting sleepy darling," Ciela said.
Napoleon chuckled and smiled at his wife. "That's the only way I can think of to end the speech quickly. So, are we ready to go home?"
His wife and children nodded their heads.
Napoleon sighed inwardly. Tomorrow and the day that follows would be about him dealing with state affairs. At least he enjoyed hanging out with them.
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