Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1892 — A Poor Reward for a Traitor [ARTICLE]

A Poor Reward for a Traitor

Pleasant stories of Napoleon I are exceedingly, scarce, but here is one; The French Col, Varennes had written several confidential letters to a pretended friend, in which he censured Napoleon about some military actions. The pretended friend, ex'

pdctmg a good reward by promotion or otherwise, sent the letter to th« Emperor. Varennes was Summoned before him. Napoleon showed him what he had received, and asked: “Are you not ashamed of these letters?” — Varennes did not lose his selfcommand. “No, sire,” he replied, “but I am ashamed of the address from which the letters last came.” Napoleon's manner brightened. He said: “You are right. Your communications to your pretended friend were confidential but he has played Judas on you. But if in the future you want to subject my orders to criticism you ought to send your opinion to a better address; that is to say, to myself, and I hereby appoint you a member of my Council of War.” The pretended friend was transferred to a subordinate position far away on the frontier of the empire.