Chapter 74: The King is the Most Talented Craftsman
Joseph couldn't help but marvel inwardly at his sister's sheer tenacity. Suffering from anemia, yet still undergoing bloodletting twice a month, she had somehow managed to survive until now...
Thérèse, confused, asked, "Why? What did Mr. Baptiste do wrong?"
"He didn't get anything right..."
Joseph suddenly recalled the news Dr. Lamarck had delivered a couple of days prior: Tocopherol had been successfully extracted. A thought sparked within him.
He had originally planned to use Vitamin E, or Tocopherol, for cosmetics. However, it also seemed to have properties for treating pathological anemia and could boost immunity.
It would be perfect for Thérèse.
Combined with some iron supplementation, her anemia should significantly improve.
As for iron supplementation, Dr. Lamarck could help synthesize some ferrous sulfate.
This substance could be produced quite simply by heating iron with diluted sulfuric acid, allowing it to precipitate, and then filtering it. The process was very straightforward.
"You must never undergo bloodletting again; it severely harms your health. Furthermore, I've prepared a remedy that should help alleviate your condition. I'll have someone deliver it to you tomorrow."
"Really? You truly have such a remedy?" Thérèse exclaimed, her face lighting up with surprise.
In truth, she had long disliked bloodletting. No girl wished to have several scars permanently adorning her arm.
Joseph nodded.
"Oh, dear Joseph, you truly are a genius!"
As Thérèse spoke, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. She quickly excused herself from the company and, supported by her maids, left the ballroom to rest.
Joseph was pondering the dosage of Vitamin E and ferrous sulfate for his sister when he suddenly thought, 'Why not sell this as a health supplement at the Paris Angel store?'
Vitamin E also had anti-aging effects and could regulate women's menstrual cycles. Combined with ferrous sulfate for blood replenishment, it would undeniably be a "woman's best friend"!
This product would certainly drive noblewomen wild.
Recalling a famous oral liquid from later generations, his eyes glinted with the prospect of livres as he murmured to himself:
"Let's call it 'Noble Lady's Joy Oral Liquid'!"
The noble ladies around, who had been eagerly anticipating this moment and were already unable to restrain themselves, seeing that Her Royal Highness the Princess had finally departed, immediately swarmed around the Crown Prince, some posturing alluringly, others glancing shyly, all trying every trick to catch his eye.
Joseph felt a headache coming on. Just as he was about to seek Perna's help, he saw a noblewoman in her thirties approaching with wine and refreshments.
He casually picked up a glass of wine. The noblewoman curtsied gracefully, smiling as she said:
"Your Highness, might I trouble you for a few moments?"
Beside him, Eman quickly whispered a reminder:
"Your Highness, this is Madame Éric."
Only then did Joseph realize she wasn't a maid and offered a slight bow in return, asking:
"Is there something you wish to discuss?"
The gaggle of young noblewomen around, seeing the "old auntie" react so swiftly and seize the opportunity, all glared at her with undisguised fury.
Madame Éric ignored them and addressed Joseph:
"Your Highness, as you know, my late husband had a business partner. He holds you in very high regard."
Madame Éric handed an envelope to Joseph:
"It's a bit presumptuous, but he wishes to discuss a matter with you. Oh, of course, the decision to meet him is entirely yours. However, he also said that you would certainly not regret meeting him."
Joseph pulled open the envelope to find a theater ticket inside.
Madame Éric leaned closer and whispered:
"Your Highness, this is from Mr. Hartley, the British Ambassador."
The British Ambassador? Joseph narrowed his eyes slightly. 'What did he want with me?'
He suddenly recalled the Eden Treaty between Britain and France that Dupont had mentioned earlier. He thought, 'No matter what the British want, it wouldn't hurt to meet with them and sound them out.'
So he raised the envelope in his hand to Madame Éric and smiled, saying:
"Please tell him I will attend."
After what felt like an age, the ball finally concluded. Joseph, exhausted, returned to his chambers only to find the King's attendant waiting at the door.
"Your Royal Highness," the King's attendant bowed respectfully, "His Majesty the King invites you to his Royal Workshop. He said he has a surprise for you."
Joseph immediately followed him to the Royal Workshop. He hadn't even had a chance to bow to Louis XVI upon entering before the King excitedly pulled him towards a dark, iron-colored machine.
Joseph could tell it was a printing press.
Louis XVI gestured to the plate-making artisan nearby. The artisan immediately nodded, secured the prepared lithographic plate in the center of the press, then placed several sheets of paper on the iron frame at the top. He then inked the plate, pulled the long lever with force, and pressed down.
When the lever lifted, the paper already bore a landscape painting of Versailles.
The artisan, however, showed no sign of stopping. He pulled away the printed image, immediately pulled the lever again, and another appeared.
He printed five consecutive sheets this way before stopping to re-ink and add more paper. The entire process took just over a minute!
Louis XVI looked at Joseph with a triumphant expression, seemingly anticipating a storm of praise.
"Dear Father, you've completed the modifications to the lithographic press so quickly?" Joseph exclaimed in surprise. "In just three days..."
The artisan beside them noticed the Crown Prince's lack of understanding and hastily, yet cautiously, reminded him:
"Your Highness, His Majesty the King has invented an automatic paper feeder."
He pointed to the rake-like lever on the iron frame where the paper was placed:
"Before, after each print, one had to reposition and align the paper. Now, it can print five sheets continuously at once, speeding up the process several times over!"
Joseph's eyes widened as he looked at Louis XVI. He thought, 'As expected of the patent holder for the new Guillotine; his reputation is well-deserved!'
Not only had the printing press been adapted to use lithographic plates, but it had also been significantly improved!
This would considerably reduce both printing time and cost.
"Beyond praise and admiration, I find myself utterly speechless," Joseph declared, dramatically bowing to Louis XVI with a hand over his chest. "You are absolutely the most formidable King I have ever encountered!"
He silently added, 'At least in terms of mechanical engineering.'
Louis XVI rubbed his hands together with satisfaction and chuckled:
"If the spring mechanism is improved further, it could print 10 to 20 sheets per pass."
He began to enumerate his inventions as if recounting family treasures:
"Look here, when the lever is pulled down, it feeds the paper forward, pushing it..."
As Joseph observed the intricate mechanical devices, a thought sparked within him. Perhaps he wouldn't need to wait for the artisans from the Charleville Arsenal. They could start developing the next generation of rifles right now.
The King truly was the most exceptional craftsman. It would be a terrible waste not to make good use of his talents!
He inquired about the plate-making artisans' situation and learned they were already proficient in creating lithographic printing plates. He then had Eman summon the bodyguards prepared for them and instructed them to immediately escort the artisans back to the Paris Business Journal Office.
Louis XVI, meanwhile, sent his assistant, the renowned master locksmith Florent, to the newspaper office with them to assist with the modifications to the printing press.
Once all the artisans had departed, Joseph immediately approached Louis XVI and, with a tempting tone, said:
"Dear Father, I have a very intricate rifle design that only someone with exceptionally skilled craftsmanship could produce.
"I wonder if you would be interested in attempting it?"
Louis XVI's eyes immediately lit up...
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