His Excellency the Count of Grandet

A few silver coins, a few pieces of zinc, and thin paper soaked in salt water can be combined to form the simplest silver-zinc battery.

This is an electric stack invented by Volt more than ten years ago, which can be called an epoch-making discovery.The most obvious performance is that when Volt was demonstrated at the French Academy of Sciences, he was immediately rewarded by Napoleon who was in power at the time, and he was also awarded the title of count.

For Faraday, this is nothing new.

In fact, he was very interested in it, and he did a lot of it in private.It's just that David hired him as an assistant, and David's experiment is more inclined to inorganic chemistry. He doesn't have much time to study, so it can only be used as a hobby.

Charles took it out at this time, and Faraday immediately understood that Charles really valued him as much as he appeared on the surface, otherwise he would not have noticed this. "Electricity?" he said, softly. "I must say, you are braver than I thought."

Faraday was certainly a smart guy.Sir Banks intends to help him get a sponsor, although it is not obvious, but he can see it; Charles really wants to be his friend and is more willing to sponsor his experiments, he can also see it.

To be honest, Faraday thanked these two people from the bottom of his heart and appreciated this behavior.

Because Sir Banks doesn't show any presidency or aristocratic airs at all, and he has a very good attitude towards the younger generation; as for Charles, although he seems to be just a rich man, he doesn't have any flashy habits unique to Paris. , and more approachable than most of the people he has met and dealt with.What's even more commendable is that Shire's attitude towards scientific research is a genuine emphasis, not just superficial.

In today's British environment, Faraday's background determines that he is vulnerable to class discrimination - people who look down on him even include David's wife, Jane Apples - so there are bosses like Sir Banks He cherishes friends like Charles very much.

But this does not mean that Faraday will accept such kindness without hesitation.

On the one hand, electricity is a new thing, and everyone does not have a deep understanding of it. It is not easier to start than an old research field such as inorganic chemistry, and the risk is higher.On the other hand, because it is a newly expanded field, if any results are made, it is likely to be a milestone discovery.

Just like doing business, scientific research also carries great risks.Leaving aside possible accidents during the experiment, the most important thing is actually the research direction.If the idea at the beginning is wrong, it is impossible to get the desired result later.Electricity is now in the initial stage of exploration, and even a giant in science cannot guarantee that his ideas must be right, and he will succeed in doing what he wants.

And he, a person who has never received any formal education, a person who wants to learn can only go to rent a bookstore to work, a person who has made all the achievements by his own exploration and experimentation, can he afford such heavy expectations?

Faraday's personal experience told him that there are likely to be 99 failures after one success.Chemistry is okay, at least there are many people studying it, and there is a roughly correct direction; but what about electricity?Start to do it now, basically rely on Mongolian!Behind this success, wouldn't there be more failures?In other words, how much money is enough for bottom line?

He didn't have much confidence in his achievements in electromagnetism, and he didn't want to let Shire's money go to waste, so when Faraday brought up this topic, he had already decided to reject this tempting proposal.

But Charles didn't see it for the time being.Because Faraday thought about it, and he thought about it, and he thought that there was no risk at all in this matter-what are you afraid of at the beginning?What is the bottleneck?With his common sense, it is impossible to catch the blind in the experiment!It's just that he was afraid of scaring Faraday away, so he replied deliberately and implicitly: "No matter what it is, there is a little risk, the difference is only big and small. You don't have to worry about me-I make my own decisions and I am responsible for myself."

Faraday paused.

Even if he had already made a decision, he couldn't help being a little shaken at this time - strong funds, emphasis on science, and equal treatment of people, could he find better patrons and advisors than Shire?Not to mention, Shire has personally guaranteed that he will operate at his own risk.

But on the other hand, the nicer Ciel was to him, the more worried he was about screwing up.After all, he really can't guarantee that if he is interested in electromagnetism, he will definitely succeed in this area.

"Thank you for your trust, Charles." It's not good to refuse directly, and Faraday thought of another reason, "but I will not leave London. Mr. David asked me to be his assistant in my most difficult time. I hope I can Finish the experiment he wants me to do."

Charles heard it now, and Faraday was not very willing.He felt that this reason was more of an excuse——

Because judging from his knowledge these days and his vague memory of the history of science, Humphrey David is not a very qualified mentor.

The fact that has happened is that during the academic trips in previous years, David's attendants were unwilling to follow, and as a result, Faraday who accompanied him was used as an attendant.David's wife, Jane, was unwilling to let Faraday ride in a carriage with them, and even drove Faraday to have dinner with the servants—but Faraday was actually David's experimental assistant, and he didn't need to take care of David's daily life at all!

Charles felt that David's acquiescence to this matter had already demonstrated his attitude.After all, the status of women in this era is really not very high. How Jane treats Faraday is not a matter of David's words?

And from Shire's vague memories of the previous era, after Oersted discovered the magnetic effect of current, Faraday also researched preliminary results and published a paper.But David was jealous of Faraday's success in the field where he had failed, so he allowed the rumors that Faraday plagiarized other people's achievements to be rampant; it was even possible that the rumors were deliberately released by David.

The matter eventually intensified.So much so that David later forced Faraday not to be a member of the Royal Society (but whether a newcomer can become a member is voted by all members, and it has nothing to do with Faraday), and he even cast the only negative vote.Later, David instructed Faraday to study a certain kind of glass, and the long experiment had no results; until David died, Faraday could study his beloved electromagnetism.

Even if all of the above happened later and hadn't happened yet, it's impossible for Faraday not to have discovered David's actual attitude from Jane's side.However, as long as his face is decent, or within Faraday's psychological tolerance, Faraday will not take the initiative to leave David; after all, David created the conditions for him to enter the scientific community, which is considered a great favor.

Man, you have a good temper, right?Since sooner or later you will tear your face apart, why don't you just come to my bowl!I will be very good to you!

Ciel, who saw through Faraday's excuse, only wanted to say so.But this must not be said, he can only settle for the next best thing. "Since you say so, then fine. But I have a request, can you promise me?"

"What?" Faraday asked, but in fact, he already vaguely felt that Charles could not give up easily.

"If you want to do electromagnetism one day, please contact me first, okay? Believe me, I will prepare for you whatever you need; no matter what time, you just need to ask." Charles said quickly, Afraid that others will get ahead of him.

Faraday could hear his confidence, and he was a little skeptical—unless David did too much, it would be really difficult for him to consider finding another job; Charles was so sure, did he think that David would really... no, it must be him in the future Thinking too much, how could Charles know this?More likely it was Ciel's own determination.

But now, he has already rejected Shire's kindness once, and it is difficult to refuse again, so he just nodded and agreed: "Okay. If there is such a day, I will write to you. Guarantee the first time, okay?"

Hearing Faraday's personal assurance, Charles was finally relieved.People like Faraday keep their word, and they will definitely not let him go.And considering the age, Oersted discovered the magnetic effect of current in the past two years.

In other words, Faraday's achievements will surpass David in a few days; when David's jealousy breaks out in full swing, he will come to persuade Faraday again, and it will definitely get twice the result with half the effort!

I have to say that Charles's calculation is really crackling.Faraday didn't know Shire's intentions at all at this time; when he found out later, the situation at that time made him unable to get angry at all, and the relationship between the two became even better.

This was probably the crowning achievement of the trip to London, at least according to Charles.At this time, the time has entered the middle of May, and it has been almost three months since he and Alphonse left Paris.Things have made staged progress, and it's time to go back.

The two began to return along the same road, preparing to contact those who had previously expressed their willingness to follow and leave along the way, and took them to Liverpool by boat together.France was originally their place, and they had connections, so there was no problem with the immigration procedures; while in the UK, the supervision of ordinary workers was not so strict, as long as they had money, they could leave.

Naturally, the money came from Charles.Moreover, the salary offered by Shire is very generous, so even if they leave their hometown, many people are willing to follow.So he hired a ship straight away, left Liverpool docks with the first miners and weavers, and set off for Paris.

As for the machines, Shire, who majored in mechanics, said that he had already studied the real objects, and it took only a few minutes to draw a blueprint.There will be no infringement problem, because he will change his own invention patent.As long as one machine is produced, isn't the subsequent expansion of production a matter of course?

Alphonse, who was returning with the boat, didn't know that Charles had planned so far.He only heaved a sigh of relief and thought happily: Fortunately, Charles has not been dazed by love; if Charles is so happy in London, how will he explain to Guillaume when he returns?

In fact, Guillaume's lethality is not as great as Victor's.If Alphonse is really worried, he might as well worry about how to explain to Victor the reason for his stay in London!