Chapter Nine
In the Galerie des Machines
Monday, May 6, 1889, Paris
Jules took his time wandering over to the Galerie des Machines. He was eager to see it, or so he told himself. From his strolling gait as he swung his portfolio listlessly at his side, passersby might think he was a well-appointed gentleman with not a care in the world. But despite appearances, his mind was in turmoil, his body electrified with excitement. Certainly, on this first day of the Exposition, he had good reason to be excited. Some of his most accomplished paintings were even now on display to thousands of adoring fans who’d traveled from all over the world to attend the fair in the shadow of Eiffel’s breathtaking tower. Surely there would be not only well-disposed art critics but also more than a few potentia
