It is apparent from the Mishnah that if we can indeed ascertain that the father's death preceded the death of his son, then the debtor may claim his debt from the property of the father that the son inherited after the death of his father, before his own death.

The Gemara says that from this we can prove that we say d'Ikni, because this property did not belong to the son at the time he originally became obligated to pay this loan.

However,the Gemara concludes that this is not a conclusive proof since we could say that our Mishnah is only the opinion of Rebbi Meir, who holds Adam Makneh Davar Shelo Ba l'Olam and we know that Shmuel was only asking according to the Rabanan.

Dov Freedman