Napoleon’s guide through the Alps tries to trick Napoleon when collecting his reward, doesn’t get away with it.

>When he asked his guide what he wanted for taking him over the mountains, he was told that, at twenty-two, all he desired was ‘the happiness of those who possessed a good house, a number of cattle, sheep, etc.’ which he needed in order to marry his girlfriend. >When, having ordered that he be given 60,000 francs to purchase all those things, [Napoleon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Jacques-Louis_David_-_The_Emperor_Napoleon_in_His_Study_at_the_Tuileries_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg) discovered that the lad was twenty-seven, already married and owned his own house, he gave him 1,200 francs instead. _______________________ **Source:** Roberts, Andrew. "Marengo." *Napoleon: A Life*. New York: Penguin, 2014. 256. Print. **Original Source(s) Listed:** ed. North, *Napoleon on Elba* p. 62. Uffindell, *Napoleon’s Chicken Marengo* p. 31. _____________________ **Further Reading:** [Napoleone di Buonaparte / Napoléon Bonaparte / Napoleon I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon)