The first matter with which we are concerned is the forgery of the clauses in the documents, which Meschini had undertaken to accomplish and actually finished in less than three weeks.  It was indeed an easy task for a man so highly skilled in the manufacture of chirograhic antiquities, but he had found himself unexpectedly balked at the outset, and the ingenuity he displayed in overcoming the difficulties he met with is worth recording.

It was necessary in the first place to ascertain whether there was a copy of the principal deed at the Chancery.  He had no trouble in finding that such a copy existed, and was indeed fully prepared for the contingency.  But when the parchment was produced, his face fell.  It was a smaller sheet than the first and the writing was a little wider, so that the space at the foot of the first page was considerably less than in the original.  He saw at once that it would be impossible to make the insertion, even if he could get possession of the document for a time long enough to execute the work.  Moreover, though he was not actually watched while he read it, he could see that it would be almost impracticable to use writing materials in the office of the Chancery without being observed.  He was able, however, to take out the original which he carried with him and to compare it with the copy.  Both were by one hand, and the copy was only distinguished by the seal of the government office.  It was kept, like all such documents, in a dusty case upon which were written the number and letter of the alphabet by which it was classified.

Meschini hesitated only a moment, and then decided to substitute the original for the copy.  Should the keeper of the archives chance to look at the parchment and discover the absence of the seal, Meschini could easily excuse himself by saying that he had mistaken the two, and indeed with that one exception they were very much alike.  The keeper, however, noticed nothing and Arnoldo had the satisfaction of seeing him unsuspiciously return the cardboard case to its place on the shelves.  He went back to his room and set to work.

The longer he looked at the sheet the more clearly he saw that it would be impossible to make the insertion.  There was nothing to be done but to forge a new document with the added words.  He did not like the idea, though he believed himself fully able to carry it out.  There was a risk, he thought, which he had not meant to undertake; but on the other hand the reward was great.  He put forth all his skill to produce the imitation and completed it in ten days to his entire satisfaction.  He understood the preparation of seals as well as the rest of his art, and had no difficulty in making a die which corresponded precisely with the wax.  In the first place he took off the impression carefully with kneaded bread.  From this with a little plaster of Paris he reproduced the seal, which he very carefully retouched with a fine steel instrument until it was quite perfect.