This romantic story may not be true for Delambre, who knew Méchain very well over a period of ten years, stated in his biography of Méchain, written many years after his death, that there was no evidence to support the story.
Ang romantikong kuwento ay maaaring hindi tunay na para sa Delambre, na alam Méchain maayos sa loob ng isang panahon ng sampung taon, ipinahayag sa kanyang talambuhay ng Méchain, maraming nakasulat na taon pagkatapos ng kanyang kamatayan, na walang katibayan na sumusuporta sa kuwento.