Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/189

Rh large sums for it; but being denied, he was filled with vexation. It happened, however, that the just knight died, and the fertile brain of the other was at work to ascertain some means of defrauding his heir of the inheritance. He therefore forged an instrument purporting to be written by the deceased knight. It stated that the land in question had been sold for a specified sum, a short time previous to his death. And three men were hired to attest it. Having, by some means, obtained access to the dead knight, he introduced the witnesses; and finding his signet in the hall where he lay, took it; and fixing it upon the thumb of the deceased, sealed the paper with the usual formalities. "You are witnesses of this deed?" said he to the men who accompanied him; "We are," answered they; and then making good their retreat, the knight seized upon the land. The son of the deceased complained grievously of this injustice. "Why have you taken possession of my land?" asked he. "It was sold to me by your father." "Impossible," cried the other, "my father many times