The Last Days of Night

Paul wanders the street, reflecting on all the ways he could celebrate his victory, but nothing feels right. He can’t go to his office because his partners will be upset about all his deceptions (hiring his associates, concealing Tesla, the coup against Edison). He can’t celebrate with his associates, his former classmates, nor with Agnes.

He’s still angry at Agnes for not understanding his perspective. He resents that she told him he had a chance with her. The irony that he couldn’t win her as a poor man and drove her away by his actions to become rich offends him. He envies Jayne who never had to get dirty for his wealth: “[Jayne] had been blessed with the luxury of his pricey innocence” (334).

Paul finds himself in a seedy bar. Batchelor, Edison’s old right-hand man, follows him there. Batchelor says that Coffin is crooked and manipulative: that he’ll betray Paul, Morgan, and the company if it benefits him. Batchelor proposes Paul put in a good word for him to stay on as vice president. He’ll keep an eye on the company and be of assistance to Paul and to Morgan from the inside.