章 24: Business Talk

Thirty minutes later, Matthew arrived at the front gate entrance of Fitzwilliam Estate.

The guards that he encountered from his previous visit approached them and knocked at the window.

Matthew rolled down the window and spoke.

"I'm here to see Mr. Fitzwilliam to discuss business purposes," Matthew replied.

"Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked.

"This time I don't have one," Matthew replied.

"Then I will have to ask you to leave sir, only those individuals that has an appointment with Mr. Fitzwilliam are allowed to enter the premises…"

"Uhm, excuse me!" Raikes chimed in, leaning forward to catch the guard's attention. "I'm Mr. Fitzwilliam's lawyer, Tom Raikes. I can assure you, our visit is directly related to urgent business matters. Please inform Mr. Fitzwilliam that I am here with Mr. Hesh."

The guard's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. After a moment's hesitation, he gave a curt nod. "Wait here," he said, stepping away from the car to speak into a telephone that was on the guard house.

Matthew tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for the guard to finish speaking with the other end of the line.

A few tense minutes later, the guard returned. "Mr. Fitzwilliam has agreed to see you both," he announced, his tone more respectful now. "Please proceed to the main house."

"Thank you," Raikes said with a polite nod.

Matthew pressed down on the accelerator, and the automobile rolled forward through the grand iron gates of the estate.

As they approached the front entrance, a butler was already waiting at the top of the steps. He gave a slight bow as Matthew and Raikes stepped out of the automobile.

"Mr. Fitzwilliam is expecting you in the drawing room," the butler informed them. "If you would follow me."

This would be the first time Matthew entering Mr. Fitzwilliam estate, and the moment he stepped inside, what he saw was just complete luxuriousness.

Matthew couldn't help but marvel as they stepped into the grand foyer of the Fitzwilliam Estate. The opulence was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The floors were polished marble, reflecting the soft glow of crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. Rich tapestries adorned the walls, depicting scenes of wars, while intricately carved wooden furnishings added a touch of elegance to every corner.

Raikes walked with the confidence of someone who had been here many times, but for Matthew, this was a new world entirely. The butler led them through a series of corridors, each one more lavish than the last. Portraits of distinguished ancestors lined the walls.

Finally, they arrived at a set of double doors. The butler knocked once before opening them to reveal a spacious drawing room. A crackling fire in the ornate fireplace provided warmth against the slight chill of the early spring air. The large windows offered a view of the sprawling gardens beyond, now beginning to show the first signs of blooming after winter.

Seated by the fire, with a glass of brandy in hand, was Mr. Fitzwilliam. He looked up as they entered, his sharp eyes appraising Matthew and Raikes.

"Ah, Mr. Hesh," Fitzwilliam said, rising from his chair with a slight smile. "And Mr. Raikes. This visit of yours is quite unexpected."

"Good evening, Mr. Fitzwilliam," Raikes replied smoothly. "We come bearing good news."

Fitzwilliam raised an eyebrow, his curiosity clearly piqued. "Oh? Do tell."

Matthew stepped forward, gathering his composure. "Sir, I wanted to inform you personally that I've been granted a provisional patent for my automobile design," he announced.

The room seemed to pause for a moment. Then, Fitzwilliam's eyes twinkled with interest.

"Is that so?"

"This means we can finally discuss business," Matthew said excitedly.

"I'm sure we do now," Fitzwilliam chuckled. "Do you already have a business proposal?"

"I don't have one on paper but I can confidently tell you my proposal in words," Matthew.

"Okay…let's hear it," Fitzwilliam leaned forward, his interest piqued.

"Mr. Fitzwilliam," Matthew began, "as you said, the world currently relies on horse-drawn carriages and steam locomotives for transportation. However, these methods have significant limitations. Horses tire, require constant maintenance, and contribute to pollution on the city streets. Steam engines, while efficient for trains, are cumbersome, expensive, and restricted to tracks."

Fitzwilliam leaned back in his chair, nodding slightly. "Yes, yes, everyone knows that. And you believe that your automobile was the answer for all that problem."

"I do sir," Matthew confirmed confidently. "My automobile will revolutionize this world. Imagine instead of horses, it would be automobile driving on the streets without leaving a poop that is not only unsanitary but a health hazard. We want a civilized city, country if you prefer, and if that is the goal then automobiles are the answer for that problem. This is a huge business opportunity for you, Mr. Fitzwilliam as I have heard that the government is also getting frustrated by the situation. Cities are growing, populations are increasing, and the waste left behind by horse-drawn carriages is becoming not just a nuisance, but a crisis. There are talks of sanitation reforms and potential bans on horse traffic in heavily congested areas. And this is where we come in."

Fitzwilliam's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Go on," he urged, now fully engaged.

"With my automobile, we can present a solution that aligns perfectly with the government's concerns," Matthew explained. "No waste, less congestion, and a cleaner, more efficient mode of transport. This isn't just about luxury or novelty; it's about necessity. And we have the opportunity to be the first to introduce it on a large scale."

Raikes, who had been listening intently, gave an approving nod. "He's right, sir. The cities are becoming overwhelmed. The authorities would be inclined to support anything that alleviates the growing mess."

Fitzwilliam swirled the brandy in his glass thoughtfully, a slight smile playing on his lips. "And you believe you can convince the government officials to adopt this... horseless carriage of yours?"

"Absolutely," Matthew said with conviction. "With your connections and influence, we can get the necessary endorsements and permissions to start deploying automobiles in the most congested areas first. Imagine the publicity, sir—your name attached to a revolutionary solution that changes the face of modern transportation."

There was a moment of silence as Fitzwilliam studied Matthew's face, looking for any sign of doubt. Finding none, he leaned back, a satisfied grin forming.

"You're quite the salesman, Mr. Hesh. Okay, how much are you going to need?"

Matthew answered without hesitation. "Two million florins."

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