Once upon a time, a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So, he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident. Birbal went to his house and asked all his servants to assemble, and asked who stole the merchant’s things. Everybody denied.
Birbal thought for a moment, and then gave a stick of equal length to all servants of the merchant and said to them that the stick of the real thief will be longer by two inches the next day. He asked all servants to be present there again the next day with their sticks.
All servants went to their homes and gathered again at the same place the next day. Birbal asked them to show him their sticks. One of the servants had his stick shorter by two inches. Birbal said, “This is your thief, merchant.”
Later the merchant asked Birbal, “How did you catch him?” Birbal said, “The thief had already cut his stick short by two inches in the night fearing that his stick will be longer by two inches in the morning.”
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