Tragedy

At sunset, three thieves took refuge in a cave near one of the cities. They remained all night planning to steal money from one of the villages. In the morning of the next day, they disguised themselves as wealthy merchants and went to the market. When they reached the moneylender’s shop, one of them entered it, while the other two remained talking outside. The one who entered the shop expressed his urgent need for money and said to the moneylender: I hope you will lend me a thousand pounds. The moneylender said to him: For how long? He said: Two months. The moneylender said to him: Then you will pay me 2000 pounds. The thief said to him: No problem. The moneylender counted the amount and gave the man a check, asking him to bring two witnesses to sign it. Soon the thief returned with his two companions. They pounced on the moneylender, gagged his mouth, tied him with ropes, took the money, and hurried with it to the cave. ...