Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/125

rich lady, but she reminded him of the law, and desired him to use the best means of complying with it, in order to effect their union. He departed in great sorrow, and after much enquiry, was informed of a rich duke, who had been blind from the day of his birth. Him he resolved to murder, and obtain his wealth; but found that he was protected in the day-time by several armed domestics, and at night by the vigilance of a faithful dog. He contrived, however, to kill the dog with an arrow, and immediately afterwards the master, with whose money, he returned to the lady. He informed her that he had accomplished his purpose; and being interrogated how this had been done in so short a space of time, he related all that had happened. The lady desired, before the marriage should take place, that he would go to the spot where the duke was buried, lay himself on his tomb, listen to what he might hear, and then report it to her. The knight armed himself, and went accordingly. In the middle of the night he heard a voice saying, 'O duke, that liest here, what askest thou that I can do for thee?' The answer was, 'O Jesus, thou upright judge, all that I require is vengeance for my blood unjustly spilt.' The voice rejoined, 'Thirty years from this time thy wish shall be fulfilled.' The