Joseph continued to review the documents regarding the Paris High Court's verdict on Lavoisier and finally breathed a sigh of relief—15 years of imprisonment, without the immediate death sentence typically favored by the Jacobins.
Indeed, Lavoisier's crimes did not meet the standards for beheading. During the Reign of Terror in France, he was unlucky enough to lose his life simply because there were only verdicts of "innocence" or "death."
Joseph weighed his options with difficulty. Lavoisier could not afford to be imprisoned now, as both the Soda Ash factory and Coal Tar refinery were still relying on him to oversee the operations. If he were to be jailed, these projects would have to halt.
It seemed that special bail was the only option. Joseph then looked at the amount of the fine imposed by the Court, a staggering 1.6 million francs.