The Last Days of Night

Paul uses a telephone for the first time in his life, and the experience is surreal. Paul makes sure Westinghouse is alone, then tells him everything Morgan said. Westinghouse is shocked and incredulous, and Paul advises Westinghouse delay having Fessenden arrested. If Edison discovers his spy has been ratted out, he will start investigating into his own people, which they do not want. Plus, keeping Fessenden on Westinghouse’s payroll (and in the dark) will enable them to take advantage of having Edison’s ear. They can make Edison believe whatever they want now, through Fessenden. Westinghouse agrees to keep Fessenden in his laboratory, assigned some meaningless task, and out of his meetings. 

This chapter is a series of short vignettes of fast-moving action. In the first, Paul finishes his phone conversation with Westinghouse. Morgan waits for him in the doorway with his cigar. Paul tells Westinghouse that Tesla is alive in Tennessee, but Westinghouse must tell his entire staff that Tesla is in Chicago working on the new lightbulb design. Westinghouse resists lying to his entire staff, but it’s the only way to get the false information to Fessenden (thus, to Edison) without arousing suspicion.

The next evening, Paul finds Agnes leaving the opera house.