A clever thief hid in a rich gentleman's room and stole two bags of money when the owner briefly left. The following day, the rich man recognized the thief by his suspicious behavior and brought him before a judge. Alarmed, the thief sought help from a wise man in the village, promising to share half the stolen money in exchange for assistance. The wise man instructed him to dress in rags, appear insane, and respond only with "Moo" to any questions. This strategy worked perfectly in court, causing the frustrated judge to dismiss the case. When the wise man later came to collect his promised payment, the thief continued his act, responding only with "Moo" and keeping all the money for himself. The wise man departed empty-handed, regretting that he had helped the ungrateful thief escape justice.

https://mythopia.io/story/908/the-robber-and-the-old-man