The fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm tells of a young man who ran away from home at an early age. Now he returns and tells his outraged parents that he has become a master thief. They immediately want to send him off on his way, because on the one hand they are ashamed, and on the other they are afraid that he might be hanged. But Robert bravely faces the imperious sovereign. After all, he still has a bone to pick with Count Gustav, who is also his godfather. The short-tempered count is only prepared to forgive him, though, if he proves his masterful thievery in three seemingly impossible tasks: First, Robert is to steal the count's favourite horse straight from underneath the bodyguard's derriere. Then, while the count and his wife are asleep, he is to steal both the bedclothes from underneath the sleeping couple as well as the countess' wedding ring from her finger. And last he must kidnap the heavily guarded priest and his sexton from the church. Thank heavens Robert is not called a master thief for no reason.