Lionel did not waste words, getting straight to the point with his questions:
"I am very interested in the principle and development of electric lights. Could you give me a brief introduction? For example, what material is the filament made of right now? What is the brightness? How long can one bulb last?"
Hearing someone interested in technical details, Tesla's eyes brightened slightly, losing his previous businesslike demeanor.
He began to explain in detail:
"The filament we currently use is mainly carbon filament, which is bamboo fiber that has been carbonized at high temperatures and then electrically heated to glow within a vacuum glass bulb.
The 16-candlepower model you chose is about as bright as 16 standard candles—significantly brighter than a standard single-burner gaslight, and the light is more stable, without flickering."
He paused, then continued after a moment's consideration:
"As for the lifespan... that is a challenge. The carbon filament slowly sublimes under high heat, gradually thinning until it breaks... Mr. Edison can already sustain illumination for 1,200 hours in his laboratory; he truly is a genius! Isn't he?
But for use in your home, which is not a laboratory... it will be around 500 hours, depending on the frequency of use and voltage stability. However, rest assured, our 'lighting contract' includes regular inspection and replacement of the bulbs."
Lionel pondered:
"500 hours..."
The lifespan was indeed short, but it was a revolutionary advancement for this era.
He then raised a crucial question:
"If I wanted to use this incandescent light to replace gaslights in a larger space—like a theatre—is that feasible?"
Nikola Tesla shook his head almost immediately:
"With the current incandescent technology, it cannot meet the needs of theatre lighting. Their brightness is far from sufficient, and the light color is too yellow-orange, failing to simulate daylight, which would make the stage appear dim and distorted."
But he mentioned another possibility:
"If you want to use 'electric light' in a theatre, the more viable option right now is the arc lamp."
Lionel became curious:
"The arc lamp?"
Tesla stated confidently:
"Yes. It uses the electric arc discharge created between two carbon rod electrodes to produce light. The temperature of the arc is extremely high, over 3,000 degrees Celsius, which generates an intensely strong white light, far brighter than the carbon filament lamp. The best one available now is the Russian 'Yablochkov Candle,' invented by Mr. Pavel Yablochkov."
As he spoke, he used his hands to illustrate:
"Theoretically, a few high-powered arc lamps could light up the entire stage. It could completely replace the complex, cumbersome gaslights used now. Electric light has no open flame, making it far more reliable than gaslights."
Lionel listened carefully, then raised a new question:
"It sounds ideal, so why hasn't any theatre adopted it yet?"
Tesla was frank:
"Its drawbacks are also obvious—first, the light from the arc lamp is too intense and very dazzling; it would be difficult for both the stage and the audience to adapt. Second, the carbon rods only burn for a few hours and need to be replaced after almost every performance, making the cost very high.
Furthermore, the arc emits a hissing noise and is prone to noticeable flickering, which would interfere with the show. The most important reason is that it requires very complex power management, and a slight error could cause a burnout...
In fact, I heard the Paris Opera installed one two years ago, but they quickly gave up."
Lionel smiled as he looked at the eloquent young man:
"Mr. Tesla, can you manage it?"
Nikola Tesla gave a confident smile but did not answer.
Lionel did not press him, his mind on other matters.
He had been thinking about the new script for a long time, but he was always worried that if he couldn't achieve the desired effect on the level of stage technology, the performance would be greatly compromised.
After all, this was not a student play; the Parisian audience had developed a refined taste, and any flaw could draw jeers.
And he was unwilling to compromise!
After a long while, Lionel snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing Tesla's cough.
He sincerely reached out and shook the other man's hand:
"Thank you very much for clarifying, Mr. Tesla. To be honest, I have some connections with the Comédie-Française and am considering some experiments with stage lighting. I am very interested in electrical science and these emerging lighting technologies, and I hope to consult you again in the future. Would that be convenient?"
Nikola Tesla rarely encountered a "layman" so genuinely interested in technical principles, and he nodded readily:
"Of course, Monsieur Sorelle. I would be happy to discuss it with you. You can find me through the Edison Company office."
Lionel smiled:
"Then it's settled. I entrust the illumination of this villa to you."
Over the next few days, Tesla led his team in working busily at the villa in Villeneuve.
Wires were carefully laid along the edges of the ceiling and behind the baseboards, and ceramic insulators were fixed in appropriate places.
Brass light fixtures with clear glass shades were installed where Lionel had specified.
When all the installation and debugging work was completed, one evening, after Tesla performed a final check, he said to Lionel:
"Monsieur Sorelle, the system is ready. We can test the lights now."
Lionel, Sophie, Alice, and Patty all gathered in the living room, filled with curiosity and anticipation; Zola, Turgenev, Maupassant, Huysmans, Paul Alexis, and others were also invited.
Tesla walked to the switch near the wall—a simple pull-cord switch, considered a convenient control method in this era.
"Please watch," Tesla said, and pulled the switch.
A quiet "click" sound.
Instantly, the incandescent lamp suspended from the center of the living room ceiling bloomed with a stable, soft yellowish-white light.
This light did not flicker like a gaslight or remain dim and confined like candlelight.
It stablely and evenly spread throughout the room, driving away the winter twilight and making every corner of the living room clearly visible.
The newly painted walls appeared whiter, and the wood grain of the new furniture was distinctly displayed.
"Wow!"
Patty couldn't help but let out a low gasp, covering her mouth with her small hand.
Sophie and Alice opened their eyes wide, their faces full of astonishment.
Zola, Maupassant, and the others also exclaimed in admiration.
Accustomed to dim light, they felt as if they were truly seeing the interior at night for the first time.
Lionel looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar lighting, a complex emotion surging in his heart.
Although the light still had a noticeable yellow tint and the brightness could not compare to that of later generations, it was already a great beginning.
Tesla looked at the steadily glowing lamp, a satisfied expression on his face:
"It's a success!"
He carefully checked the other lights, confirmed they were working properly, and then took his leave of Lionel.
After seeing off Tesla and his team, quiet returned to the villa.
But this quiet was different from before; due to the presence of electric light, the night seemed less prolonged and oppressive.
The grand dinner began, and the villa entered a joyous rhythm!
At the dining table, Émile Zola excitedly proposed naming Lionel's villa "The Land of Light"! This immediately won loud agreement from Maupassant and the others.
Lionel: "..."
Émile, do you believe in light too?
However, he had already decided to meet with Director Perrin of the Comédie-Française tomorrow; his new script would require more than just the cooperation of the actors.
(End of Chapter)