The Foreign Merchant
A merchant from a foreign land once
visited Dracula's capital of Tirgoviste. Aware of the reputation of Dracula's
land for honesty, he left a treasure-laden cart unguarded in the street over
night. Returning to his wagon in the morning, the merchant was shocked to find
160 golden ducats missing. When the merchant complained of his loss to the
prince, Dracula assured him that his money would be returned and invited him to
remain in the palace that night. Dracula then issued a proclamation to the city
-- find the thief and return the money or the city will be destroyed. During the
night he ordered that 160 ducats plus one extra be taken from his own treasury
and placed in the merchant's cart. On returning to his cart in the morning and
counting his money the merchant discovered the extra ducat. The merchant
returned to Dracula and reported that his money had indeed been returned plus an
extra ducat. Meanwhile the thief had been captured and turned over to the
prince's guards along with the stolen money. Dracula ordered the thief impaled
and informed the merchant that if he had not reported the extra ducat he would
have been impaled alongside the thief.
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