A couple of minutes later, the ambassador came down. Bernardo, upon seeing Francisco, nodded to him, and Francisco responded with a small bow.
"You're going in my carriage," said the ambassador. "I need to talk with you."
"Yes, Mr. Ambassador," Francisco replied.
After everyone entered their respective carriages, the vehicles began to move.
"We are going to a mine, not a factory as you might have believed," the ambassador said after a short silence.
Francisco frowned. "A mine? Do these machines work in mines as well?"
The ambassador nodded. "Actually, their first and greatest use was in mining. It wasn't until Boulton and Watt improved the design that the machines began to spread into factories."
"I see," Francisco said thoughtfully. "Can you tell me more about the machine?"
The ambassador hesitated. "I can only share limited knowledge. Even in Spain, it's considered a military secret."
