1. Harben counted his gold. He counted it again. Then a third time, dismantling each neat tower of coins and reconstructing it in accordance with his fresh tally. But even after the tenth count the number was the same. One of his precious gold pieces was missing!
2. He seized his banker, slamming him against the wall, and demanded to know where his missing money was. The banker babbled that Harben must have been mistaken. Next Harben interrogated the bank's guards and its other customers, but no one confessed to the terrible crime -- even when the tip of his crossbow bolt gleamed just inches from their eyes.
3. Harben couldn't trust the bank anymore. Through either mendacity or ineptitude, they had taken a sliver of his hard-earned fortune! Thus he had his servants carry the gold to his home, while he walked behind and watched for unscrupulousness with his crossbow leveled.
4. The following night he counted his money once again. But though no more coins were missing, another atrocity came to light. One of them was chipped! Had a wretched maidservant been stealing fragments of gold? Chipping away at his fortune like a mouse nibbling at a block of cheese? He questioned the women with the aid of his crossbow, while they screamed and wailed their innocence.
5. He couldn't leave his wealth at home. Nor could he entrust it to the bankers. No... He had to keep watch over it himself. And so an idea formed in the miser's mind. Harpen visited the local blacksmith, where he looked on with crossbow in hand as his bidding was done. If he couldn't store his gold in safety, he would wear it about his person instead.
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