40 A CHEMICAL TFJAD. 



Robespierre had made themselves acquainted with what La- 

 voisier was about. The three philosophers exchanged glances 

 ominously. To have the reputation of riches was, at the 

 times of which I write, a cause of political suspicion. La- 

 voisier saw that he was compromised. 



6 Escape whilst you may/ said Berthollet, addressing him. 



'What matter?' replied Lavoisier. 'If they set their 

 minds on having my poor fortune, have it they will, whether 

 I escape or not. I have never heeded riches, save for the 

 power they gave me of aiding others. I have used them to 

 accumulate facts. Now in future, if God will, I can earn my 

 bread as an apothecary, and work out theories by reflection.' 



Poor Lavoisier ! So soon as he perceived himself to be 

 compromised, he took it as a matter of course that he should 

 lose all the wealth he had, and be obliged to recommence the 

 world at the age of fifty. He anticipated nothing worse : 

 why should he? What wrong had he done? Many days, 

 however, had not passed before a different train of feelings 

 came across him. It was the custom of the myrmidons of 

 Robespierre, at that period, to circulate prejudicial reports 

 against those whom they had already doomed to destruction. 

 Vague rumours came to Lavoisier's ear of malversations 

 committed whilst he was Fermier- General. Conscience ac- 

 quitted him of the charge ; but what mattered whether true 

 or false, provided Robespierre and his confederates had re- 

 solved to have him? In an evil moment, Lavoisier escaped 

 and hid himself, which only seemed to give probability to the 

 charges brought against him. The minions of Robespierre 

 were still on his track, but could not discover him. La- 

 voisier might have escaped; but, actuated by a noble and 

 generous sentiment, he determined to give himself up not to 

 the officers of justice, for justice was not then in the French 

 dominions but to the officers of Robespierre the monster. 



His wife's father, M. Paulze, happened to be in the power 

 of Robespierre at the time when Lavoisier escaped. The 



