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 MAZEPPA
 
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 \Ve have to congratulate the author upon a thoroughly competent piece of 
 work. The style is good and without affectations ; the principal characters are 
 drawn with a due regard for both the strength and shortcomings of human nature, 
 and are conducted through their allotted parts with sympathy, consistency, and 
 intelligence, whilst the parts allotted to them are such as to present dilemmas to 
 each in his or her turn, and therefore to keep the author's brain busy and the 
 reader's interested. ... As good a novel of its kind as we expect to see for some 
 time.' MANCHESTER GUARDIAN. 
 
 'A well-thought-out study of unrest and political intrigue in the Russian 
 capital soon after tie death of the great Peter. - . . Alike in matter as in manner 
 the novel is one of notable merit, and will be read with the greatest interest.' 
 SCOTSMAN. 
 
 ' If you care for an historical novel of a time and of a country which have lain 
 almost fallow in spite of their wealth of material, I can recommend to you Mr. Fred. 
 Whishaw's "A Forbidden Name.". . . Whether Catherine was capable of the 
 magnanimity she shows . . . readers in their breathless interest in the tale will 
 hardly stop to ask.' TRUTH. 
 
 ' "A Forbidden Name " involves a good deal of free but effective handling of 
 Russian Court history during the later decades of the last century.' SPECTATOR. 
 
 'The pathos and historic interest of the book can be enjoyed in their full 
 measure.' DAILY EXPRESS. 
 
 ' The theme is well handled.' ATHEN/EUM. 
 
 ' The style is pleasant and easy.' MORNING LEADER. 
 
 ' Mr. Whishaw is an expert concocter of historical-adventure stories. . . . The 
 story is well compacted of love, politics, and fighting.' ACADEMY. 
 
 ' Mr. Fred. Whishaw's customary skill in telling Russian stories has not deserted 
 him in "A Forbidden Name.". . . The tale is brightly written, and contains much 
 thrilling incident.' DAILY TELEGRAPH. 
 
 ' Mr. Whishaw may always be counted upon to speed a passing hour.' GLASGOW 
 HERALD. 
 
 ' A stirring tale, told in the vigorous and graphic style characteristic of the 
 writer.' WESTERN MAIL. 
 
 1 Full of adventure.' ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS. 
 
 'The book is well written and is capital reading.' DAILY NEWS. 
 
 ' There is excitement enough in it to satisfy the most exacting reader, yet its 
 most thrilling incident never exceeds the bounds of possibilits'. It is a volume all 
 lovers of the semi-historical novel of adventure will revel in.' LLOYD'S WEEKLY 
 NEWSPAPER. 
 
 ' A good lively tale of adventure.' LITERATURE. 
 
 ' It is well told, full of spirit, and the fighting parts are nothing if not realistic. 
 SATURDAY REVIEW. 
 
 ' A most excellently narrated drama. . . . We can thoroughly recommend 
 Mr. Whishaw's abje and interesting novel to the reader who likes artistic workman- 
 ship as much as stirring incident and drama.' VANITY FAIR. 
 
 ' A capital story.' MIDDLESEX GAZETTE. 
 
 'The plot is at once stirring and pathetic. Mr. Whishaw has produced an 
 unusually good book.' GUARDIAN. 
 
 1 The story is well told.' LITERARY WORLD. 
 London: CHATTO & WINDUS, in St. Martin's Lane, W.C.
 
 M A Z E P P A 
 
 BY 
 
 FRED. WHISHAW 
 
 AUTHOR OF ' A FORBIDDEN NAME ' ETC. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 CHATTO & WINDUS 
 
 1902
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 SPOTTISWOODE AND CO. LTD., NEW-STREET SQUARE 
 LONDON
 
 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 I WILL begin my story from the moment when, at 
 the age of sixteen, my destiny first came more 
 directly in touch with that of Mazeppa, my 
 cousin in the third degree and my compatriot. 
 My father was Chelminsky, a captain under the 
 renowned Hmelnisky, a great and honoured 
 name among Cossacks ; for under his leadership 
 our tribes threw off the yoke of the Polish King 
 and became once more independent, as Cossacks 
 should for ever be. 
 
 Mazeppa's father and mine were relatives, 
 rivals, and near neighbours. The same may be 
 said of Mazeppa and myself, for together we 
 entered service as pages at the Court of John 
 Casimir of Poland, and together we left it. Also, 
 as I shall presently show, we were in after life in 
 constant rivalry whether as lovers, as leaders of 
 our compatriots, or in any other capacity. 
 
 Our home was in Volhynia, near the borders 
 
 B 
 
 2138842
 
 2 MAZEPPA 
 
 of Poland and of the Ukraine, and our estates 
 were distant but three or four leagues from one 
 another : thus as youths Mazeppa and I met 
 occasionally, though not very frequently. Our 
 educations differed considerably, for my cousin's 
 tutor was a cultured Pole who held, and made no 
 secret of his opinion, that the training of the 
 mind is of greater importance in the life of a man 
 than the training of the body, supposing that a 
 youth must make his own way in the world. 
 Therefore Mazeppa was brought up as a clerk, 
 though possessing strength and activity of body 
 which made easy for him the acquisition of skill 
 in manly exercises ; while my father preferred 
 that I should be made a soldier, a horseman, a 
 swordsman in a word, that I should become a 
 true Cossack. 
 
 Nevertheless, when Mazeppa was sent as page 
 to the Polish Court, my father being dead by that 
 time, my mother wished that I should go also, in 
 order to acquaint myself with the ways of princes 
 and courtiers, and attain a knowledge of life in 
 high places. The King being at this time anxious 
 to oblige the Cossack nation, there was little 
 difficulty in securing employment for us. 
 
 Neither Mazeppa nor I were popular among 
 the Polish youths at Court, though I may say that 
 the ladies were less disposed to cavil at us.
 
 MAZEPPA 3 
 
 We were Russian, we were told, though 
 we stoutly denied the fact, and Russians were 
 to the Poles at this time as the sun to the 
 ice. The Cossacks, emancipated by our great 
 leader, with my father and others, had lately 
 found it difficult to stand alone, and being obliged 
 to choose for support between Russian, Turk 
 and Pole, had chosen the former. We were 
 therefore, strictly speaking, under allegiance to 
 the Tsar. Moreover, we were of the Orthodox 
 religion ; hence, though actually and jealously 
 Cossack in nationality, we were, in a sense, 
 and as our Polish companions loved to assure 
 us, Russians. This was a constant source of 
 quarrel between us and them, and in the end was 
 the immediate cause of our departure from the 
 Court of John Casimir. 
 
 In this quarrel, which I shall now describe, I 
 was of course upon the side of Mazeppa ; so that 
 our connection began not in rivalry but in friend- 
 ship, and for a while after this event we remained 
 the closest of friends, and if there was any feeling 
 of rivalry it did not show itself. 
 
 It was I that had made a swordsman of 
 Mazeppa, which is a proud boast ; for indeed 
 thanks to the instruction and practice which I 
 gave to him during the earlier days of our life at 
 Court he became a very expert handler of the 
 
 B 2
 
 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 foils a pupil of whom any master might justly 
 be proud. 
 
 The fatal quarrel was none of our seeking, 
 but we were of an age when to fight is as natural 
 as to breathe or to eat, though in the Court of 
 King John Casimir personal encounters were not 
 encouraged were, indeed, strictly forbidden a 
 fact which rendered indulgence in the pastime 
 a dangerous luxury. 
 
 There were five of us pages, all lads of 
 sixteen, and at certain hours of the day it was 
 our duty to assemble in the ante-room appointed 
 to our use, and there to await His Majesty's 
 pleasure. 
 
 On this day we five loitered long and wearily; 
 and the King not appearing, and we having 
 nothing better to do, we took to quarrelling the 
 three young Polish blades forming one party and 
 we two Cossack youths the other. 
 
 I must confess that it was generally I who was 
 at the bottom of the disputes in which we con- 
 stantly engaged, though usually without coming 
 to blows. Mazeppa was, perhaps, as independent 
 in spirit and as quarrelsome as I, at heart, but his 
 manners were better : he was more of a courtier 
 than I, and also more cautious and less frank ; but 
 his tongue when he used it bit very deeply. 
 
 ' Here come the Russians,' said one of the
 
 MAZEPPA 5 
 
 Poles, * entering the room as though it were 
 their own property.' 
 
 'Only Russians since the Cossacks over- 
 threw the Poles,' replied I, cruelly throwing in 
 his teeth for the hundredth time the victory of 
 my father and his Cossacks. 
 
 'Poor Cossacks that cannot stan$ on their 
 own legs ! ' laughed Vladimirsky, one of the three 
 Poles, * but must for ever hold hands with Pole or 
 Russian, lest they fall for lack of support.' 
 
 * Who supported us when we thrashed you 
 at Moldavetz ? * said I. ' Moreover, it is better 
 to be allied with a bear than a fox, though I 
 protest we require neither, and it is certain that 
 we hate both.' 
 
 * Peace, Chelminsky,' said Mazeppa, * this 
 conversation grows stale, we have heard it so 
 often ! Vladimirsky will never learn the differ- 
 ence between a Russian and a Cossack : he is 
 short of understanding, for which we may blame 
 his parents, but scarcely himself.' 
 
 * I will tell you,' began Zofsky, another of 
 them, * of what these two fellows most remind 
 me, Vladimirsky. They remind me of a Russian 
 bear and his keeper that I saw last spring in a 
 street in the city. The bear was a fierce, ill- 
 mannered brute another Chelminsky while the 
 keeper, who constantly kept him in check lest
 
 6 MAZEPPA 
 
 he should get himself into trouble by his 
 stupidity and ruthlessness, was Mazeppa.' 
 
 c Did the bear, then, fall upon those of the 
 crowd who baited or laughed at him ? ' said I, 
 feigning a coolness which I did not feel. 
 
 'When he showed signs of doing so, for the 
 fool did not know that any one of the bystanders 
 could have smashed his head with an axe. 
 Mazeppa I should say the keeper interfered 
 and pulled at the chain which was fastened to 
 the nose of the rash and foolish beast.' 
 
 ' One day,' I said, { that bear will show that 
 he is not for ever to be baited with impunity ; 
 he will fall upon some fool that is taunting him, 
 and maybe his keeper will not prevent him from 
 teaching his enemies a lesson.' 
 
 ' That would be an unfortunate day for both 
 bear and keeper,' laughed Zofsky, * for they 
 would gain nothing better than broken heads.' 
 
 * Let us play at bear and bystander ! ' said I, 
 and in spite of Mazeppa, who cried, ' Hush, 
 Chelminsky,' and of the others, who stepped 
 forward to interfere, I administered a couple of 
 quick buffets, one on Zofsky's right cheek and 
 the other on his left, and in a moment all five of 
 our swords flew out of their scabbards, and there 
 was promise of a good battle three Poles to us 
 two Cossacks.
 
 MAZEPPA 7 
 
 The battle actually began. 
 
 Zofsky, red in the face and furious, sprang 
 towards me, and our swords clashed. Mazeppa, 
 with his left arm, pressed me gently back- 
 wards until I stood beside him, back to the wall, 
 I defending myself, meanwhile, against Zofsky's 
 onslaught. 
 
 * Against odds,' Mazeppa said, * it is better to 
 have no one behind us, and especially,' he added, 
 glancing at our three opponents, * when we have 
 Poles for adversaries.' 
 
 At this the three sprang angrily upon us, and 
 for a minute or two there was quite a din of 
 clashing swords, so that we did not know that 
 the door of the King's cabinet had opened and 
 the King himself had entered the ante-room. 
 
 His stern voice was heard quickly enough, 
 and with lightning speed our weapons found 
 scabbards, and we stood, all five, with hanging 
 heads and flushed faces. 
 
 For a moment the King was silent. Doubtless 
 he looked sternly upon each one of us, but 1 think 
 not an eye was raised to meet his. Certainly my 
 own gazed only upon the toe of my shoe. 
 
 * I am amazed ! ' said the King, very distinctly. 
 * Are you, gentlemen, in ignorance of the King's 
 commands in respect to quarrelling ? ' 
 
 No one replied.
 
 8 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Speak you, Vladimirsky,' said the King. 
 
 ' Pardon, Majesty,' said Vladimirsky, c I have 
 not the plea of ignorance.' 
 
 * And you, Zofsky ? ' 
 
 * I was struck first, Majesty,' said Zofsky ; 
 4 my anger carried me away : I am guilty.' 
 
 * Struck ? Within the precincts of my Court ? 
 And by whom ? ' thundered the King. 
 
 * By me, Majesty,' I said, * whom he first 
 insulted in a manner which it was impossible to 
 tolerate ! ' 
 
 * Impossible ? And yet it is possible to 
 disobey the King's command ! What say you, 
 Mazeppa ? ' 
 
 * We were attacked, Majesty,' said Mazeppa ; 
 * it is the instinct of our race to stand by one 
 another. I could not see Chelminsky cut to 
 pieces before my eyes.' 
 
 ' Indeed,' said the King, very sternly ; * if 
 that be so, go fight one another's battles where 
 you will for the future. I will have no spitfires 
 in my Court ; go, both of you, whence you came. 
 Let me see your faces no more. As for you 
 others, your case shall be considered.' 
 
 Then Zofsky behaved in a manner I should 
 not have expected, for he stood forth and boldly 
 told the King that it might be he and Vladimirsky 
 were more to blame in this matter than we, since
 
 MAZEPPA 9 
 
 they had, indeed, provoked us in a manner that 
 no honourable man could tolerate. But the 
 honest fellow did no service to his cause, for 
 the King flew into a passion and chased from his 
 Court both Zofsky and Vladimirsky, who might 
 otherwise have been forgiven as well as our two 
 selves, so that of his five pages only one remained 
 to him. What became of these young Poles I 
 have never heard and have never inquired ; 
 enough that the career of Mazeppa and myself 
 was ended in so far as concerned the Court of 
 Poland. We retired into Volhynia with hearts 
 abashed and heavy, somewhat sullen, and much 
 depressed in spirit, for both of us were ambitious, 
 and indeed it seemed as though our prospects 
 were irretrievably ruined.
 
 io MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 AFTER our dismissal from the Polish Court we 
 returned for a while to our own homes, where 
 we should have seen little of one another but 
 for the circumstance that we happened to fall in 
 love if the mild passion of a youth of seventeen 
 can be called by that name with the same lady, 
 an attractive person of mature age, in comparison 
 with our own, and withal the wife of another, a 
 neighbour, Falbofsky. 
 
 It became our delight an unworthy pastime, 
 indeed to compete for the favour of this lady, 
 and this foolish competition was the first beginning 
 of the state of constant rivalry in which we two 
 have since passed our lives. 
 
 Probably, but for the desire to outdo one 
 another, neither of us would have thought 
 seriously of the matter. I am sure, looking back 
 through the years that have passed, that I was 
 never in love with Falbofsky's wife, and Mazeppa 
 has many times assured me that his attentions to 
 the lady were prompted by that necessity for some
 
 MAZEPPA ii 
 
 kind of amusement or pastime which every idle 
 youth must experience. But though both denied 
 afterwards that love impelled us to the lady's 
 side, I think we were both at the time seriously 
 determined to get the better of one another in 
 her affections ; and I remember that each boasted 
 continually of the progress and success of his 
 pursuit of the fair one, who smiled, I dare say, 
 impartially upon both of us, pleased with the 
 attentions of each, though not disposed to 
 reward either with any but the cheapest favours. 
 
 The matter ended somewhat abruptly, and 
 indeed seriously enough for all parties concerned. 
 
 Falbofsky was a Polish noble. We had seen 
 him occasionally at the King's Court, where, being 
 our senior, he had taken but little notice of us. 
 We did not like him, and our visits to his wife 
 were generally undertaken when we knew that 
 he was away from home, at Court or else- 
 where. 
 
 The lady would inform us whenever these 
 absences were to take place, when Mazeppa or I 
 would be sure to appear, and sometimes both of 
 us together, in order to lighten for her the creep- 
 ing hours of separation from her husband. 
 
 I know not whether someone played us false, 
 some messenger or servant at Falbofsky's house, 
 but it is certain that one day Falbofsky got wind
 
 12 MAZEPPA 
 
 of our habit of profiting by his absence, for he 
 played us a pretty trick. 
 
 We each received, as usual, intimation that 
 Madame would receive visitors upon a certain 
 day and at a certain hour, and as usual, too, both 
 Mazeppa and I strained every nerve to get the 
 better of one another by arriving first, in order to 
 enjoy the society of the lady for awhile before 
 the other should come to destroy the delights of 
 undisturbed possession. On this occasion I had 
 the advantage of Mazeppa, it appeared, being 
 half an hour in advance of my rival, a fact which 
 I discovered by falling first into the ambush 
 prepared for us by the angry husband, who, 
 having smelt a rat or having received warning, 
 lay in wait for us at a lonely spot in the forest, 
 accompanied by half a dozen stout retainers. 
 
 A couple of these pounced out from their 
 hiding-place before I had realised that I was 
 attacked, and seized my reins. 
 
 I imagined that I had to do with robbers, and 
 hit out so lustily with my fist that one of my 
 fellows dropped the bridle and fell. But others 
 rushed out and pulled me from the saddle. My 
 horse galloped away, leaving me in their hands. 
 Then I realised that I had to do with Fal- 
 bofsky. 
 
 * Gag him,' he said, * and tie him to a tree
 
 MAZEPPA 13 
 
 meanwhile, lest he make a noise and warn the 
 other rascal.' 
 
 'So Mazeppa is still expected,' I thought. 
 It would be like his cunning, however, if he 
 should have obtained information of this ambush 
 and had stayed away, or maybe gone round by a 
 longer road. Mazeppa was ever the most subtle 
 of mortal men a very fox, indeed. 
 
 ' Falbofsky, let us fight it out like men,* I 
 said. He took no notice of my words. 
 
 1 Do you hear ? ' he repeated. ' Gag him, 
 and tie him to a tree ; his fool of a horse has 
 run away, or ' 
 
 I knew not what he was going to say, though, 
 knowing what I now know, I have no doubt he 
 intended to treat me as he presently treated 
 Mazeppa. Thanks to my good horse, who was 
 cleverer than I, and escaped, he was unable to 
 have his will. I interrupted him. 
 
 ' Are you afraid to cross swords, Falbofsky ? 
 I will fight you for your wife, come ! ' 
 
 He took no more notice of this foolish 
 speech than of the other. 
 
 * Gag him quickly, fools ! ' he said, stamping 
 his foot ; * if he shows fight tap him, one of you, 
 on the head.' 
 
 Then four of them fell upon me, and in 
 spite of my struggling overbore me and fastened
 
 i 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 a band tightly about my mouth. Then they tied 
 me to a tree, and sat about waiting and watching, 
 as they had waited and watched for me. 
 
 Presently came the sound of galloping hoofs. 
 Mazeppa rode quickly, anxious, like me, to obtain 
 the lady's ear before his rival should have arrived. 
 
 * He comes,' said Falbofsky ; ' be ready all, 
 and this time secure the horse, or by thunder 
 you shall be sorry, every one of you ! ' 
 
 Nearer came Mazeppa : the galloping hoofs 
 approached very close, they were almost upon us. 
 Oh, that I could cry out and warn him ! but I 
 was as dumb as the dead. 
 
 ' Now ! ' whispered Falbofsky, c two, and then 
 immediately other two ! ' 
 
 At the word out darted a pair of fellows and 
 seized Mazeppa's reins as they had seized mine. 
 The horse reared up in sudden terror. Mazeppa 
 struck at his assailants, but missed ; he tried to 
 draw his sword, but a second pair of fellows had 
 pinned his arms and quickly pulled him from the 
 saddle. 
 
 Mazeppa lay and struggled, moving this way 
 and that with a heap of men atop of him. Now 
 he showed a head, now an arm, and all the while 
 he cursed and threatened ; but the fight was 
 unequal as I knew to my cost and presently 
 he was exhausted and lay still.
 
 MAZEPPA 15 
 
 All the while he had not seen me, nor yet 
 Falbofsky, so that he did not yet understand how 
 matters stood. 
 
 * If it is a matter of ransom,' he panted, and 
 then paused open-mouthed, for his eyes fell upon 
 me. His hand stole towards his sword hilt, but 
 they had deprived him of the weapon. Then he 
 recognised Falbofsky. 
 
 ' Oh, is it so then ? ' he said. * What is the 
 meaning of this outrage, Falbofsky ? Have you 
 and your crew turned highway robbers ? ' 
 
 * Bind his wrists behind his back,' said 
 Falbofsky, ignoring Mazeppa's words. His men 
 obeyed, Mazeppa resisting, but uselessly. 
 
 * Now,' continued Falbofsky, c strip him ; 
 leave him not a vestige of his garments ; strip 
 the horse also of his saddle and cloth. Take one 
 of the ropes you have brought and tie the fool 
 tightly to the horse's back. Lay him along, so, 
 and pass the rope round the middle of both. 
 Now remove the bridle, and let them go. Lord, 
 what a thin poor creature thou art, Mazeppa ! 
 The folks in the villages will mistake thy lean 
 naked body for a pine-stem ! ' 
 
 Mazeppa was too dazed to reply, he seemed 
 bereft of speech. The men had meanwhile 
 slipped the bridle from his horse's neck. One 
 of them gave a shout to startle the animal, and
 
 1 6 MAZEPPA 
 
 another, snatching a stick, smote it violently 
 upon the quarters. Away dashed the frightened 
 creature. 
 
 For a moment or two the fleeting hoof-steps 
 were audible as it dashed, mad with surprise and 
 terror, through the forest : a wild curse or shriek 
 from the throat of Mazeppa came back faintly 
 from the distance, then horse and man had dis- 
 appeared from sight and sound. 
 
 Now came my turn. 
 
 * Strip him, too,' said Falbofsky, ' and leave 
 him gagged in the road.' 
 
 If looks could kill, mine would, I think, have 
 slain my enemy at that moment, but he avoided 
 my gaze and took no further notice of me. He 
 mounted a horse which was brought him from a 
 distance, where it had remained in hiding, and 
 rode away. 
 
 Me they stripped of all but a thin shirt. He 
 whom I had knocked down when he held my 
 bridle came up when his master had gone, and 
 belaboured me with a stick, adding many curses. 
 The rest laughed and applauded, making insult- 
 ing remarks and treating me roughly and brutally 
 as they dragged me into the road, gagged and 
 naked, and there left me. 
 
 A peasant found me an hour later as he 
 passed with his cart of hay. He released me,
 
 MAZEPPA 17 
 
 covered me with a cloth, and drove me to my 
 house. Here I lost little time. Fortunately, I 
 had succeeded in gaining the house unseen, for 
 it was the dinner hour and the servants were 
 busy with their meal. I dressed myself quickly, 
 took my sword, mounted my best horse, and 
 dashed away towards the Falbofsky mansion, 
 distant but two leagues from our own. 
 
 My horse knew the road well, for he had 
 borne me many times by the same route. But 
 love had never caused me to drive him so wildly 
 forward as did now the madness of hate and the 
 desire for revenge. My madness seemed to 
 infect him. His hoofs spurned the earth as we 
 flew through air. Within half an hour I stood 
 in the presence of Falbofsky, who sat with 
 his wife talking and laughing, and I doubt not 
 telling her the story of how he had served the 
 two fools who had loved to hang at her apron 
 strings. 
 
 She cried out when she saw me. She was 
 accustomed to see me look differently. 
 
 * Chelminsky ! ' she exclaimed in terror ; 
 * your eyes are full of murder.' 
 
 ' My heart also,' I said. ' Draw, Falbofsky. 
 This time you must fight, whether you will 
 or no ! ' 
 
 * Oh, I am ready,' he laughed, drawing his 
 
 c
 
 i 8 MAZEPPA 
 
 weapon, * if you must needs have another 
 lesson ! ' 
 
 We crossed swords, and I was conscious of 
 our fair Helen rushing from the room screaming 
 for help. * I must make haste,' I thought, * and 
 get this matter finished before they come to 
 interrupt.' We began to fight cautiously. 
 
 * While yet you have hearing and under- 
 standing,' I said, as our swords touched, Met me 
 tell you that your wife is innocent of all sin. I 
 would not have you die suspecting her falsely.' 
 
 * Die ! ' he said with an oath. * Death will 
 not come at your call, my friend ; as for my 
 wife, she knows a man from a child as well as I. 
 You have been punished enough for the wrong 
 you have done. Will you go home ? * 
 
 For answer I fell upon him with vigour. 
 This last insult cut me deeply, wounding my 
 vanity. I would show him what manner of 
 child I was. If I might not wound the heart of 
 a woman, I could at least cut to pieces any man 
 who presumed to offend me ! 
 
 Falbofsky was, I could see, surprised and 
 alarmed by my skill with the sword. He had 
 begun the fight leisurely, as one reserving his 
 strength. Soon he was fencing with all his art, 
 and fencing well. But this day I would take no 
 denying, and within a few minutes I had him
 
 MAZEPPA 19 
 
 disarmed and at mercy. I think I should have 
 given him the point without pity, but that his 
 fair wife ran shrieking into the room at the 
 moment, followed by servants, and implored me 
 to spare him. 
 
 1 Chelminsky, do not slay ' she cried. 
 t Chelminsky, my friend ! See, he is wounded 
 already ! ' 
 
 I had not observed this. It was true, how- 
 ever ; his sword-arm was soaked with blood. 
 
 c Well, I will spare him,' I said, * since you 
 ask me ! ' Whereupon I stalked from the room 
 very proudly and happily, for I felt my honour 
 had been amply vindicated. 
 
 C2
 
 20 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 THEN I rode to Mazeppa's house in order to 
 find how he had fared in his ride home. To be 
 sent riding back to one's friends stripped of all 
 clothes and tied like a pack to the horse is a 
 shameful thing, and I intended to have my fun 
 out of Mazeppa. He had striven daily to better 
 me in the matter of the lady whose favour we 
 both desired, and I was not sorry that to-day, at 
 least, I had had the laugh of him. Who had 
 seen him as he came jolting, naked, into the 
 stable yard, I wondered ! How he would hate 
 the man or men who saw and released him I 
 knew Mazeppa well ! Those men would not 
 remain long in his service ! Sweet Lady of 
 Kazan ! to ride naked and bound among one's 
 own servants ! A shame indeed ! 
 
 But to my surprise nothing was known of 
 Mazeppa at his own house. 
 
 * And the horse ? ' I inquired. 
 
 The servant smiled. c It would need a clever 
 horse to rid himself of our master ! ' he said.
 
 MAZEPPA 21 
 
 ' The Pan is a Cossack, and sticks to his horse 
 like the devil to a weak soul ! This day he rides 
 the new horse, indeed an untried Tartar beast 
 from the Ukraine, bought from a merchant who 
 brings a number for sale each year. But the 
 horse is not foaled that can throw Mazeppa ! ' 
 
 Knowing what I knew, I said nothing, but 
 took a bundle of clothes and some food, and 
 galloped forth in order to take up Mazeppa's 
 track from the spot in which Falbofsky lay in 
 ambush for us. 
 
 The ground was soft, and it was easy enough 
 to follow the hoof marks. Falbofsky's men had 
 first well startled the horse by shouting and 
 beating him with sticks, so that he had fled at 
 full gallop, kicking up the grass and earth as 
 he went. A child could have led me upon the 
 scent. 
 
 But though I rode ten leagues and more 
 before darkness came to render further tracking 
 impossible I had not yet overtaken Mazeppa, 
 and I was obliged to seek shelter for the night 
 in a village which lay a mile from the cross- 
 country path chosen by the horse, which had 
 avoided passing close to the habitations of man, 
 as though aware that he bore a burden which 
 must not be gazed upon. 
 
 Very early in the morning I set out once
 
 22 MAZEPPA 
 
 more upon my pursuit, and, taking up the track 
 where I left it, was soon in full chase. 
 
 And I had scarcely travelled more than two 
 or three leagues when I came upon what at first 
 sight appeared to be Mazeppa lying dead beneath 
 the horse, which was as dead as its rider. He 
 was still tightly bound to the beast, which lay 
 with protruding tongue and glazed eyes starting 
 from their sockets, having as it seemed tripped 
 and fallen headlong over the trunk of a tree 
 uprooted by the wind, while galloping through 
 the forest in the darkness. 
 
 Now, though I was never sure at this time 
 whether I more loved or hated Mazeppa, the 
 sight of his poor naked body come to so pitiful 
 an end filled me with sorrow, and I dismounted 
 very mournfully in order to disengage him from 
 the carcass of the horse which lay upon him. 
 First I cut the bonds that bound him to the dead 
 beast ; after that I dragged the burden from him, 
 for it lay upon one leg and one side of him, 
 covering his chest, but leaving his head free. 
 
 * Poor dead Mazeppa ! ' I murmured; ' thou 
 hast been ever ready to better me, my friend, but 
 I have loved thee, nevertheless, more than other 
 men that I have known ! ' 
 
 As I freed him from the weight that had 
 oppressed him, Mazeppa seemed to groan ; his
 
 MAZEPPA 23 
 
 eyelids quivered as though he would come to. I 
 took water and sprinkled his face. Presently he 
 sighed and opened his eyes. He stared dully at 
 me for a minute ; then he seemed to remember 
 and sat up to look around. It was plain that he 
 had not broken his neck, like the poor beast that 
 carried him. 
 
 He rose to his feet and examined the dead 
 horse, spurning it with his foot. 
 
 * Take these clothes, Mazeppa,' I said ; * it is 
 a mercy and a marvel that you are not as dead as 
 the beast.' 
 
 * Curse him ! ' said Mazeppa ; * and doubly, 
 trebly and eternally damned be Falbofsky in this 
 and all worlds ! I am shamed and disgraced for 
 ever.' 
 
 * No one saw thee except Falbofsky and his 
 men,' I said, thinking to soothe him. 
 
 * Curse thee, too, for a fool ! ' he cried angrily. 
 
 * Do not men's tongues wag ? All the world will 
 know of it for fifty leagues around ! ' His jaws 
 shook with the cold, but he seemed to take no heed 
 of it, though he quickly donned the clothes I 
 brought. I gave him food ; but, though he must 
 have been starving, he ate it without thinking 
 what he did ; his thoughts were far away. 
 
 'How came you free?' he said suddenly. 
 
 * Did you escape them?'
 
 24 MAZEPPA 
 
 * My horse escaped,' I said, f or doubtless 1 
 should have been treated as you were. As it was, 
 I was left gagged and bound in the wood, stripped 
 also ; but a peasant found me and carried me 
 home in his cart. Then I rode across to Falbof- 
 sky's house, and ' 
 
 4 You have not killed him do not tell me 
 that ! ' cried Mazeppa, so loudly and furiously 
 that I was startled. ( Dare not to tell me you have 
 killed Falbofsky ! ' 
 
 4 1 fought him and wounded him, but spared 
 his life,' I said, ' because she ' 
 
 'She!' cried Mazeppa, and repeated ( She, 
 almost shrieking the word; f it was she that led us 
 into the trap. Do you know that, Chelminsky ? 
 How would he have known of our coming but 
 for her ? And you spared him because she wept 
 and bade you be merciful was it so, I say ? ' 
 
 I assented, somewhat shamefaced. Mazeppa's 
 madness made me afraid and ashamed. 
 
 ' Well, thank God, you spared him ! ' he 
 laughed, a moment later. ' And you reached 
 home naked ? ' he ended unexpectedly. 
 
 4 1 was not seen,' I said. 
 
 * It is the same as though we were both seen. 
 By this time all is known. We have done with 
 home for ever, my friend, you and I with home 
 and with all who knew us there. I thought
 
 MAZEPPA 25 
 
 of this as I rode yesterday. Would you re- 
 turn ? ' 
 
 It had not occurred to me that it would be 
 necessary to depart, as Mazeppa suggested, but 
 now that he pointed it out I realised the whole 
 shame that would attach to us both in this matter 
 if folks should speak of it, as speak they surely 
 would. It would be impossible to live, knowing 
 that people looked askance at us as we passed 
 and told one another of our disgrace. True, 1 
 had fought Falbofsky and had the better of him, 
 but that would be forgotten, while the rest 
 remained. 
 
 * No,' I said, * I will not return, or, if I do, 
 only for a short space in order to put my affairs 
 in order with the steward.' 
 
 * No ; let him come to you, that is my advice. 
 We will abide at Gorelka, which cannot be far 
 from here. I have an idea for our future career (I 
 had time to think yesterday), and from Gorelka 
 we will summon our servants.' 
 
 We travelled slowly to Gorelka, which was a 
 small town distant about two leagues from the 
 spot in which I had found Mazeppa. There 
 we lodged at the post station, but when we had 
 eaten and rested an hour Mazeppa said that 
 he would borrow my horse for a day, or maybe 
 two days.
 
 26 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Whither go you ? ' I said. * Homewards, to 
 settle your affairs ? ' 
 
 * Yes, homewards, and to settle my affairs,' he 
 replied grimly. 
 
 * If one is to go,' I said, ' it were surely better 
 I, for of the two, Mazeppa, it is you that have 
 been worse treated and will be most spoken of. 
 Both of us will lie under contempt, but you 
 more than I.' I spoke honestly, desiring to 
 spare him the shame of being seen, for I saw 
 plainly that this would be no small matter for 
 him in his present temper. 
 
 { Fool ! ' he retorted. ' Do you not under- 
 stand that because I have suffered the greater 
 disgrace therefore it is for me to go ?' 
 
 I did not understand for a moment or 
 two. When his meaning at last occurred to me 
 1 said no more, for it would have been as 
 foolish to attempt to stem a mountain torrent 
 as to divert Mazeppa from his purpose at that 
 moment. And presently he took my horse and 
 rode away. 
 
 A day and a half I awaited his return at that 
 post station at Gorelka. I guessed what was 
 passing in our own district, and I spent my time 
 musing over this and over the question of my 
 future career. Now that Mazeppa had shown 
 me the matter from his point of vision, I
 
 MAZEPPA 27 
 
 wondered how I could ever have contemplated 
 living at home after Falbofsky's treatment of us 
 and the disgrace and derision that were bound to 
 follow. Truly this fiend could not have devised 
 a more devilish trick to bring fellow creatures 
 into the contempt of men though he had been 
 Beelzebub himself, the prince of fiends ! 
 
 Mazeppa returned, and I looked into his 
 eyes, saying nothing. He, too, gazed in mine, 
 but smiled only, keeping silence upon the subject 
 we both thought of. But he was now himself 
 once more, and in excellent temper, from which I 
 inferred that his mission, whatever it might be, 
 had succeeded. 
 
 On the following day my servant arrived, and 
 Mazeppa's with him. I had despatched post 
 horses and a messenger to fetch them. They 
 brought terrible news. 
 
 Falbofsky had been dragged from his bed at 
 night, it was said, and forced to fight with some 
 desperate stranger, who had left him dead or 
 dying upon the ground and departed. ' It was 
 as well,' said the servant, * that the Pans Mazeppa 
 and Chelminsky were both here at Gorelka, as 
 could be testified, for otherwise suspicion might 
 have fallen upon either or both, since it was 
 freely spoken of that there had been a quarrel in 
 which all three were involved.'
 
 28 MAZEPPA 
 
 c And the lady ? ' I asked, glancing at 
 Mazeppa. 
 
 * They say she was beaten with thongs by 
 the same miscreant, and lies raving and accusing,' 
 said the man. f The Pan Falbofsky was a fierce 
 lord, and had many enemies ! ' 
 
 Not one word did I speak with Mazeppa of 
 this matter. We settled our affairs as well as we 
 could do so by our servants, and having dis- 
 missed them lost no further time, but rode direct 
 towards Bastupof, a city of the Cossacks of the 
 Ukraine, in search of a career. It was some 
 time before I heard definitely whether Falbofsky 
 died or lived.
 
 MAZEPPA 29 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 SEE us now at the headquarters of the Hetman 
 or chief of the Registered Cossacks, by name 
 Doroshenko. These Registered Cossacks are 
 they whose names are entered in the book as 
 adherents of the King of Poland : they are thus 
 distinguished from those others who espouse the 
 cause of the Tsar of Russia. It was Mazeppa 
 who so quickly found a new career for both of 
 us, and that by his amazing assurance ; for he 
 rode straight to the Court of the Hetman (who 
 holds his head, be it remembered, as high as the 
 Polish King himself, though in a measure his 
 vassal), and demanded employment, stating our 
 names and the places we came from, but pre- 
 serving silence be sure upon the reason for 
 our leaving home. 
 
 * Which is Chelminsky ? ' asked the Hetman, 
 and learning that it was I, * What, the son of our 
 good captain, under Hmelnisky ? ' he asked with 
 interest. 
 
 I blushed, and said that so it was.
 
 30 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Then I say that none have a better right to 
 demand service among us here,' said he, taking 
 me by the hand. * You shall find a good friend 
 in me, my man,' he added kindly, * and if you 
 are like your father we shall be glad of you 
 indeed ! I do not know your name, Pan 
 Mazeppa, but you seem to be one who goes with 
 his eyes open.' 
 
 * You will find that Mazeppa's eyes never 
 shut, Hetman,' I said ; f be wise and take him 
 into your special service. He can do many things 
 besides ride and use a sword, in which common 
 accomplishments he excels.' 
 
 * Is he a gramatny ? ' asked the Hetman. * Can 
 he write and read ? ' 
 
 * I am as much clerk as soldier,' said Mazeppa, 
 f and I know figures.' 
 
 4 Come, then, that falls in well for both of 
 us,' said the Hetman, * for my peesar (secretary) 
 died but a week since, and all these fellows 
 though they are devils to fight and can write well 
 with their swords upon the body of an enemy 
 can wield a pen no more than ply a needle. You 
 shall be tried, sir, as peesar, and you, Chelminsky, 
 shall remain soldier.' 
 
 Thus Mazeppa first received employment in 
 the country of which he was destined to be the 
 greatest of all, by virtue of his friendship with
 
 MAZEPPA 31 
 
 myself a matter which has given me cause for 
 many reflections and for some laughter. I to 
 have been Mazeppa's godfather in Cossack-land ! 
 and he to have owed his first advancement to 
 me ! Lord ! how oddly things happen in this 
 world. 
 
 As young men and leaders, for so we soon 
 became, we did well among our equals at the 
 Hetman's Court, and presently stood high in 
 Doroshenko's favour. 
 
 With the ladies Mazeppa was ever popular : 
 fickle and inconstant as water was he, yet having 
 some quality of attractiveness which drew female 
 hearts to him in spite of the fate which it was 
 to be seen would surely overtake those who 
 trusted him. It may be that women did not 
 take him seriously, as at this time he certainly did 
 not take them. At any rate, he ever stood well 
 with them. With the men he was not so popular, 
 though, for some reason, they seldom quarrelled 
 with him. When they did so they fared ill, for 
 if it came to swords Mazeppa was as skilful as 
 any, and rarely received so liberally as he gave ; 
 while if matters went before the Hetman, then 
 Mazeppa's tongue easily gained him the victory, 
 however weak his cause, for in craftiness and 
 cleverness he was the superior of all, and it so 
 happened that those who offended him came
 
 32 MAZEPPA 
 
 invariably to ill either immediately or soon, and 
 either upon one plea or another, so that men 
 began to fear Mazeppa. 
 
 Occasionally we differed, he and I ; but our 
 quarrels were not serious, for, though I began to 
 know Mazeppa from this time somewhat better 
 than I had known him heretofore, or cared to 
 show even now, yet I was fond of him as my 
 first friend, and he of me. 
 
 When Mazeppa was chosen, therefore, as 
 ambassador or secret envoy of the Hetman to 
 the Turk in Constantinople, I was chosen by 
 Mazeppa to accompany him. We bore letters 
 from the Hetman, who wrote, at Ian Casimir's 
 request, suggesting a combined movement of 
 Turk, Pole and Cossack against the Russian 
 Tsar, who grew aggressive. 
 
 But it happened that we never reached 
 Constantinople, for before we had been many 
 days travelling we were fallen upon, at evening, 
 by a body of Russian Cossacks, who held us 
 prisoners until we should have been examined by 
 their captain in the morning. 
 
 During the night, when our guards slept, 
 Mazeppa nudged me. 
 
 * Wake, Chelminsky,' he said, 'and eat this.' 
 
 * I am not hungry,' I replied wearily, * let me 
 sleep.'
 
 MAZEPPA 33 
 
 1 Eat, fool, and talk to-morrow,' he said 
 angrily, holding something out to me. I took it : 
 it was several small scraps of paper. 
 
 ' What is this jest ? ' I asked. * This is not 
 the time for fooling, but for sleeping.' 
 
 * It is no jest; this is part of the Hetman's 
 letter, which was concealed in my boot. I have 
 eaten much of it and can swallow no more; eat 
 your share: it must all go, and quickly.' 
 
 I swallowed a scrap or two of paper and 
 choked. Mazeppa snatched the rest of the torn 
 letter and thrust it into his long boot. Two sol- 
 diers awoke. Mazeppa clapped me upon the back. 
 
 * He chokes for want of water ! ' he said. 
 ' Give us a drink, friend, for the love of Heaven. 
 We are all Cossacks, though we swear by different 
 overlords ! ' 
 
 They gave us water, and Mazeppa drank also. 
 Afterwards, when the fellows were asleep again, I 
 tried to swallow more pieces of the letter, but 
 made but a poor job of it. Mazeppa ate some of 
 it, contriving to swallow better than I had done. 
 I hid the rest in my boot, intending to finish it 
 before daylight, and thought I had done so; but 
 when we were carefully examined at morning for 
 letters or despatches, one small scrap was found in 
 my boot, and upon this scrap were treasonable 
 words which betrayed our mission. 
 
 P
 
 34 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Oho ! ' said the Captain ; * so you are envoys 
 to the Turk ? We have made our capture, men 1 
 Come, you young gamecocks,' to us c where is 
 the rest of the letter ? ' 
 
 4 Down our throats, most of it,' said Mazeppa, 
 laughing ; l washed down by the water which you 
 kindly provided us withal.' 
 
 { Come, reveal : what was in this letter ? ' said 
 the man. * You had better disclose, or, who knows ? 
 we may rip you up to find the pieces. Which of 
 you swallowed the letter ? This one, I'll be sworn, 
 since he is so silent, and seeing, too, that a scrap 
 was found in his boot.' The Captain nodded 
 his head at me. 
 
 Mazeppa did not contradict. I have since 
 thought that if it had come to ripping us open in 
 order to secure the letter, I should have been the 
 first and perhaps the only one to suffer. At that 
 time I did not suspect that Mazeppa would have 
 allowed me to be the victim ; the suspicion came 
 long afterwards, when I knew more of the man's 
 heart. 
 
 The fellows consulted, however, and deter- 
 mined to leave us to digest the letter, whatever it 
 might be. 
 
 * It seems a serious matter,' said the Captain ; 
 * and you shall be taken to the Tsar's Court at
 
 MAZEPPA 35 
 
 Moscow. They have ways there of getting men 
 to reveal what it is desirable to know.' 
 
 * Take us to the devil if you will,' laughed 
 Mazeppa. * The Tsar shall know just as much or 
 just as little as we who know nothing can tell 
 him. It is easier to eat a sealed letter than to 
 read it.' 
 
 * It is easiest of all to tell what was in it, when 
 the knout is at the back ! ' laughed the Captain. 
 * We shall see what will happen, Mr. Boastful.' 
 
 And so we were actually carried to Moscow to 
 the Court of the Tsar, and since we were not 
 allowed to ride together, nor to speak a word to 
 one another on the way, I did not know what 
 Mazeppa intended to do, or whether he would 
 reveal or conceal what he knew of the vanished 
 letter, or the object of our mission. 
 
 As for me I hoped, and prayed also, that I 
 should be found courageous in the time of trial, 
 and that I should not be forced to betray our 
 trust under the anguish of the knout, which tears 
 the flesh like the claws of a bear. 
 
 But in this matter, as in every position of 
 difficulty, Mazeppa, born diplomatist and leader 
 of men, found a way to escape though not the 
 most honourable. Since this is an honest record, 
 however, and not a story drawn up for my own 
 
 D 2
 
 36 MAZEPPA 
 
 glorification or Mazeppa's, I must admit that I 
 was so greatly relieved and delighted by our 
 unhoped-for escape from the knout or other 
 torture, that I thought less of the end attained than 
 of the means employed to attain it ! 
 
 We were confined separately in Moscow, and 
 I was surprised one day when together with the 
 jailor Mazeppa entered my chamber. 
 
 * We are free, Chelminsky,' he said. f Come 
 forth we are in the Tsar's favour.' 
 
 4 But how how and why we who were his 
 arch enemies, and caught in the act of working for 
 his disadvantage ! ' I cried, hastening out of my 
 captivity, however, and following him quickly 
 from the house as I spoke. 
 
 1 The Tsar Alexis is the strong man,' said 
 Mazeppa. * I was brought before him and spoke 
 with him, and I have discerned that it is so. 
 From this time we are no longer registered vassals 
 of the Pole : we are Russians, my friend, and shall 
 henceforward offer our allegiance to the Tsar.' 
 
 * Oh, Mazeppa ! ' I exclaimed ; * have you 
 turned traitor and betrayed our own kith ? ' 
 
 4 Bah ! we are all Cossacks : those are not more 
 our kith than these ; your own father fought the 
 Poles why not you ? ' 
 
 4 That was for independence, not for the 
 Tsar ! ' I groaned.
 
 MAZEPPA 37 
 
 4 Well,' said Mazeppa, somewhat disdainfully, 
 * then refuse to be the Tsar's man. Go back and 
 sit in your prison for a few years, if you prefer it, 
 or in a worse place ; taste the knout and die of 
 weariness of your own society and the devil's ! '
 
 38 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 OF course I took part in Mazeppa's perfidy, and 
 shared in its reward, freedom and the favour of 
 the Tsar, and presently profitable employment 
 under another Hetman. 
 
 We remained in Moscow a little while, and 
 during that period I heard that the Hetman Doro- 
 shenko, our late master, had been attacked in his 
 citadel by a large force of Tsar's Cossacks ; that 
 he had been captured and sent into exile. In 
 that exile he died. 
 
 That Mazeppa was guilty of contributing in 
 any way to his capture I will not expressly 
 declare. Let each man think as he will upon 
 such matters. 
 
 The Tsar Alexis was greatly impressed by 
 Mazeppaj, treating him with marked favour 
 and kindness. He took little notice of me, 
 regarding me as a mere hanger-on or attendant 
 of my companion, and Mazeppa's manner, under 
 the sun of the Tsar's regard, grew different 
 towards me. He spoke to me, from this time,
 
 MAZEPPA 39 
 
 with condescension and hauteur, rousing my 
 resentment at times almost to quarrelling point, 
 though we always ended in reconciliation. 
 
 And when I consider the surprising scheme, 
 which at this time took root and began to grow 
 in Ma^eppa's brain a scheme of ambition and 
 presumption indeed, even though he eventually 
 brought one half of it to pass, I am not 
 surprised that he walked head-in-air. 
 
 The Tsar Alexis was, as I say, most gracious 
 towards his new Cossack convert. He saw in 
 him, I doubt not, indications of certain qualities 
 which might be turned to the advantage of the 
 State. Mazeppa was a plant to be watered by 
 Tsarish favour and counsel in order that it might 
 one day grow so great and so strong that it 
 should give support to those who desired to lean 
 upon it. Now I discovered without intent the 
 ambitious ideas of my friend, and this by means 
 of a quarrel with him which ended instead of 
 in his overthrow or mine in amazement and 
 surprise on my part so great that the quarrel died 
 in the birth, for simple lack in me either of 
 tongue power or arm power to continue it. 
 
 We quarrelled because of his new manner 
 towards me. 
 
 * Come, Mazeppa,' I said angrily some word 
 of mine having been slightingly turned aside by
 
 40 MAZEPPA 
 
 him * enough of your new manner. 1 know 
 nothing in you which should justify this new 
 assumption of superiority over me, unless it be 
 that you are a better traitor.' 
 
 * Bah ! traitor ! ' said Mazeppa with scorn. 
 4 Must you for ever be a fool, Chelmin- 
 sky ? Shall we not do the best for our own 
 country ? What matters who is Hetman or 
 whether a man dies, or a hundred men, if we 
 are learning meanwhile what is wisdom and 
 what is folly ? ' 
 
 ' 1 am not a reader of riddles,' said I, * but 
 this I know and will say, that you shall treat me 
 as an equal, for your equal I am, or it maybe that 
 swords will be drawn, and it shall be shown that 
 you have a superior.' 
 
 ' See here, Chelminsky,' said Mazeppa in his 
 friendliest manner ; * put up your sword, or 
 rather do not dream of drawing it against me 
 who am your best friend. You are my equal in 
 most things, I admit, and maybe my superior 
 in some. But in one matter, at any rate, I have 
 you at advantage, for my eyes see further than 
 yours into the coming time, which, I must tell 
 you, if we so desire it, shall be pregnant with 
 good things for us : for you and me that is, and 
 through us for the Cossack nation.' 
 
 * Oh, indeed ! ' I laughed ; * forgive me for
 
 MAZEPPA 41 
 
 my ignorance ; I knew thee not for a prophet 
 until this day ! ' 
 
 4 Prophecy goes mainly by the gathering and 
 the placing together of little atoms of knowledge. 
 When one has collected together a pile of such 
 atoms he may stand upon the top and prophesy. 
 Now I know that the Tsar has for no merit of 
 my own, but because he sees in me an instru- 
 ment I know, I say, that the Tsar has set a 
 favourable eye upon me. I know also that 
 Russia is large and full of latent force, but that 
 Poland is small and proud and disinclined to 
 make profitable bargains with our people. She 
 is afraid of Russia. She has just applied to the 
 Turk for aid against the Tsar. We should know 
 that ! but the Moslems are not to be trusted : 
 see how they cheated the Poles in the wars of 
 Hmelnisky and your father ! As men have been 
 they shall be ; they will cheat again. Russia is 
 the strong man armed and the best friend for us, 
 by which I mean that with her we may make the 
 best bargain. Now the Tsar desires that I 
 and of course yourself shall return as Russian 
 Cossacks. Samoilovitch is the Russian Hetman, 
 and to his service we shall go. Can you now 
 prophesy with me, or shall 1 say more ? * 
 
 ' I do not see that we are any farther advanced 
 than when we began to speak,' said I. 'We
 
 42 MAZEPPA 
 
 have, very treacherously, exchanged our allegi- 
 ance from Pole to Russian ; that I knew before. 
 What else have you shown that I know not ? 
 You are a poor prophet so far, Mazeppa.' 
 
 { Well, then, I will show more. The Tsar 
 somewhat distrusts Samoilovitch. In any case 
 the Hetman cannot live or govern for ever. 
 One day, sooner or later it may be sooner than 
 one supposes there will be required a new 
 Hetman, and he will be a nominee of the Tsar.' 
 
 1 But he will not be a foolish, callow youth of 
 thy age,' I said, laughing scornfully. c Is this 
 thy prophecy ? Be sure, my friend, the next 
 Hetman will not be named Mazeppa ! ' 
 
 { Either that or Chelminsky,' he replied, quite 
 seriously. * That will depend. Mark you, there 
 is no need of haste in these changes. In five 
 years, in ten maybe, we shall be so much older 
 and wiser. The Tsar, be assured, does not 
 speak so directly of these matters as I now speak 
 with you, but he allows his meaning to appear. 
 As confidential secretary to Samoilovitch I shall 
 soon learn much, says the Tsar, that it is 
 important for him to know. The Tsar values 
 the friendship and the allegiance of the Cossacks. 
 They might, at emergency, bring him fifty 
 thousand lances, or more. He would have me 
 sit and watch and bide my time. It was the
 
 MAZEPPA 43 
 
 Tsar who said the Hetman cannot live for 
 ever.' 
 
 All this certainly gave colour to Mazeppa's 
 hints. The surprise of the communication took 
 my breath away. I had never so much as 
 dreamed of the possibility of Mazeppa attaining 
 one day to the Hetmanship of the Cossacks, nor 
 had I cherished so foolish an ambition for my- 
 self : the idea of such a thing had never occurred 
 to me. I sat and gazed at Mazeppa, too amazed 
 to speak. 
 
 'I see that I have surprised you,' he said. 
 * I have thought very deeply upon this matter, 
 and I have persuaded myself that from the 
 Tsar's point of view I may indeed become a 
 useful instrument for his ends. Kings are not 
 guided by philanthropy in their imperial schemes, 
 but by expediency. In me Alexis sees an agent 
 suited, as he thinks, for his purposes ; therefore 
 he will employ me. I take no credit, excepting 
 that I have discerned as quickly as he has dis- 
 cerned that there is a kernel to the Cossack nut, 
 and that it may be cracked by teeth that seem 
 weak.' 
 
 * I wager,' said I, ' that in this matter the 
 Tsar did not mention my name, though you 
 mention it ! ' 
 
 * Well, he did not,' said Mazeppa. * He cannot
 
 44 MAZEPPA 
 
 deal in such matters with more than one. He 
 would scarcely say, " One of you two, whichever 
 prove the worthier, shall serve me in this matter 
 and be rewarded in such and such a manner." 
 The Tsar speaks by hints, mentioning no names. 
 I think I do not lack in friendliness towards you, 
 my friend, in confiding all this to you. You shall 
 go with me to Samoilovitch, and under him we 
 shall rise side by side ; which shall rise the higher 
 in the end matters little so long as the two highest 
 places are ours ! ' 
 
 In short, Mazeppa easily talked me over to 
 his views, rousing my ambition and quieting my 
 compunctions in the matter of the transfer of 
 allegiance from Pole to Russian. 
 
 And I was duly presented to the Tsar, who 
 spoke kindly and regarded me with interest, as 
 though Mazeppa had said good words for me, 
 which, as a matter of fact, Mazeppa declared 
 that he had done. 
 
 And at the Court of Alexis Romanof we 
 lived for a month, learning many things concerning 
 Russian life and customs, and here I soon per- 
 ceived that Mazeppa's ambitions did not end 
 where his first homily had ended. 
 
 There was a young princess, by name Sophia, 
 whose heart seemed of the softest. This was 
 the daughter of the Tsar, young and moderately
 
 MAZEPPA 45 
 
 fair so it was said, though I did not see her at 
 this time, for she lived in great seclusion, as 
 became, according to the traditions of the 
 Russian Court, the daughters of the House- 
 Royal. But Mazeppa to my amazement 
 informed me that he had seen her, not once, but 
 many times. 
 
 * In the name of Heaven, how and why and 
 when were you so favoured ? * asked I. 
 
 'As to how y first, then,' Mazeppa laughed. 
 * The god of love has fought for me ; one of the 
 maidens of the Court is very friendly with me. 
 I have walked many times in the garden at 
 Preobrajensky with her, and there the Princess 
 sometimes takes the air. As to when, I may say 
 that I have been honoured with sight of her High- 
 ness six times, and have spoken with her four times. 
 As to why must I tell thee, Chelminsky ?' 
 
 * As you will,' I laughed. c Tell me if it 
 pleases you, that the Tsar will beg of his new 
 Hetman the favour of becoming his son-in-law, 
 and ' 
 
 Mazeppa interrupted me with a laugh. 
 
 * Come, Chelminsky,' he exclaimed, * you 
 make progress ! Do not move too fast ! No, 
 the Tsar knows not that we have met. She 
 herself well, she smiles sweetly and talks shyly 
 there it ends to-day. But there will be a
 
 4 6 
 
 MAZEPPA 
 
 to-morrow. A*" Hetman is a Hetman and the 
 brother ,of kings. A Hetman of Cossacks might 
 do worse for his .people than marry a daughter of 
 the Tsar, and who knows ? the Tsar might do 
 worse for his than choose such a son-in-law ! 

 
 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 I HAD begun, as I say, to understand and to 
 know Mazeppa, and the first fruit of my better 
 knowledge was the' determination to be very 
 cautious in my dealings with him, for in spite of 
 his seeming goodwill towards me I began almost 
 unconsciously to distrust him. It was not long 
 before I became persuaded of this, in Mazeppa, 
 that he did nothing and said nothing without 
 careful intent. Which being so, thought I, his 
 friendship towards me cannot be disinterested, and 
 its reason must be discovered. 
 
 Thus, after much consideration, I came at 
 length to the conclusion that Mazeppa intended 
 to use me. I was a pawn in his political 
 schemes, to be employed in the accomplishment 
 of his ends. But I must have position and power 
 to be of use to him, and at present I had none. 
 Then I thought of his words : * We will rise in 
 the world side by side,' and the idea came to me 
 that Mazeppa fixed certain hopes upon my career 
 as a soldier. He intended that I should have 

 
 48 MAZEPPA 
 
 influence among the soldier population, and that 
 that influence should be employed by me, when 
 the time came, for his advantage. 
 
 * Well,' thought I, c I am willing to rise ; but 
 whether my influence, if I have it, shall be used 
 to your advantage or my own, friend Mazeppa, 
 shall depend ! ' 
 
 And indeed both Mazeppa and I perhaps 
 specially recommended to Samoilovitch by the 
 Tsar himself, as to which I knew nothing pro- 
 spered amazingly at the Court of the Hetman. 
 Mazeppa, as secretary to Samoilovitch, soon gained 
 his confidence and became very quickly a power 
 a force more felt than seen and realised, but none 
 the less a force. As for myself, I too was in 
 much favour with the Hetman, and rose rapidly 
 as a soldier of his army. 
 
 The Tsar Alexis died, and in a very short 
 while his son Feodor died also, and now Mazeppa 
 was sent to Moscow, at his own suggestion, in 
 order to see how the land lay in the matter of the 
 Romanof succession. I accompanied him by order 
 of the Hetman, who bade me keep an eye upon 
 Mazeppa and report all that he said and did. 
 
 I received this order with surprise. Did the 
 Hetman, then, distrust his peesar ? 
 
 We found Moscow in a turmoil, arriving as 
 it chanced on the very day when the Streltsi
 
 MAZEPPA 49 
 
 those hereditary regiments of turbulent busybodies 
 which Ivan the Terrible had raised and armed, 
 marched in revolt upon the palace within the Krem- 
 lin, in order to right certain imaginary wrongs. 
 
 It had been whispered among these men that 
 the Tsar Feodor had been done to death by the 
 family of Naryshkin, in order that their own 
 relative young Peter might succeed. The 
 Tsar Alexis had married a second wife, choosing 
 a daughter of the Naryshkin family, and her 
 brothers it was said would be deterred by no 
 crime from placing their nominee, Peter, upon 
 the throne. Some even said that they would go 
 further than this and murder Peter himself in 
 order that one of themselves, as brothers of the 
 Tsaritsa, might usurp the throne. Now between 
 Peter and the succession there stood Ivan, his 
 imbecile half-brother, and it was averred by the 
 Streltsi that the Naryshkins had not only mur- 
 dered Feodor, but also this Ivan, and it was in 
 the midst of the fury and the madness of their 
 awakening that we reached Moscow. We found 
 the streets full of an excited mob, all surging in 
 the direction of the palace, following and accom- 
 panying the Streltsi, who rushed through the 
 midst of the crowd shouting and gesticulating, and 
 turning up the sleeves of their red shirts as they 
 ran with naked swords to the slaughter. 
 

 
 50 MAZEPPA 
 
 Some cried as they ran that Feodor had been 
 assassinated ; others that Ivan, the helpless, harm- 
 less child of fourteen, had been murdered also ; 
 but all shrieked curses upon the Naryshkins and 
 howled for their blood. 
 
 Now whether Feodor had been poisoned, as 
 was said, or whether he died a natural death, I 
 know not ; but it is certain that neither Ivan nor 
 Peter had been harmed, for the Tsaritsa, in 
 response to the shouts of the Streltsi mob beneath 
 the palace windows, brought out both children 
 upon a balcony and allowed the deputation of the 
 soldiers to climb up and identify them. 
 
 But this was not enough for the Streltsi, who 
 had come for blood and must have it. They still 
 shouted for Naryshkins to be thrown out to them, 
 and two of their own generals who strove to 
 appease them were quickly cut in pieces. 
 
 Then a search was made for the brothers of 
 the Tsaritsa, the Naryshkins, a number of the 
 Streltsi forcing their way into the palace and 
 searching it throughout. They found and slew 
 two who had taken refuge in the chapel, and 
 having vented their fury upon them were 
 satisfied. 
 
 But the mob without howled for victims, and 
 by an unfortunate chance both Mazeppa and I, 
 who followed with the mob into the palace square,
 
 MAZEPPA 51 
 
 came near to supplying food for their insensate 
 rage. For as we stood, or were hustled hither and 
 thither, Mazeppa, nudging my arm, bade me see 
 who stood near us, separated from us, however, 
 by a score, or maybe a hundred, of the crowd. I 
 looked and immediately recognised an old acquain- 
 tance, Falbofsky. This was he whom Mazeppa 
 had left for dead some years before at our home 
 in Volhynia the rogue who had sent him to ride 
 naked through the Ukraine, shaming us both 
 into exile. 
 
 * It is Falbofsky,' I said laughing * an old 
 friend indeed ! ' I felt no animosity against the 
 man ; time had smoothed out the rancour I had 
 felt in the old days. But Mazeppa was, it seemed, 
 of a different temper. 
 
 * I hoped I had wiped out our score that 
 night,' he said, looking darkly at the man, ' but 
 the fellow takes two killings to end him. We 
 will see that he does not escape : he is easily 
 followed and marked down ! ' 
 
 Presently Falbofsky turned and observed us, 
 and I could see at once that if Mazeppa had not 
 forgiven his offence, neither had he forgiven 
 Mazeppa's ; for he stared and glared furiously at 
 us for a moment. Then, like a fool, he began to 
 shout aloud maledictions and threats, calling us 
 by our names, and continuing, yet more foolishly, 
 
 2
 
 52 MAZEPPA 
 
 to tell those about him of the escapade of many 
 years ago and of Mazeppa's shameful treat- 
 ment. 
 
 Mazeppa's face grew milk-white with rage. A 
 few Streltsi standing near began to be attracted by 
 the loud voice of Falbofsky. 
 
 'What is the matter have you found a 
 Naryshkin ? ' they cried, pushing through the 
 crowd towards Falbofsky, who took no notice but 
 talked on, glaring at Mazeppa. 
 
 Then I observed Mazeppa behave in a sur- 
 prising way. He pointed at Falbofsky : * A 
 Naryshkin! ' he shouted. ' If you seek for Narysh- 
 kins, there is one, the vilest fox of the litter ! ' 
 
 * Which, which ? ' cried the Streltsi, struggling 
 up with bloodshot eyes and hands that clutched 
 their naked weapons, ready to strike. 
 
 * The old one ! ' cried Mazeppa, pointing. 
 * He was on his way to the palace, but got jammed 
 in the crowd.' 
 
 In a moment the men fell upon Falbofsky and 
 cut him to pieces. They killed two others stand- 
 ing beside him, lest they should have made a 
 mistake and slain the wrong one. They stuck the 
 three heads upon spear-points and pushed through 
 the mob, screaming that they had sent one or 
 more of the Naryshkin litter to hell. 
 
 1 Come,' said Mazeppa, c we will not stay ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 53 
 
 and, sick at heart and shocked, I struggled my 
 way out of the square. 
 
 ' You devil, Mazeppa ! ' I said, when I had 
 recovered my breath. ' No murderer is more 
 guilty than you after such a deed ! ' 
 
 * You fool it was his death or ours ! ' he 
 replied. f Could you not discern so much ? Let a 
 man but point at another, this day, and speak 
 loudly, and lo ! there is found a Naryshkin for 
 the Streltsi to fall upon. In another moment we 
 should have been the victims instead of he.' 
 
 * Thank God,' said I, * that my heart is not for 
 ever full of black vengeance. I had forgotten his 
 offence, and wished him no ill.' 
 
 * As to that,' said Mazeppa grimly, { it is not 
 my way to forget, nor yet to forgive. Moreover, 
 it was I that was put to shame, and not you.' 
 
 Thus again did Mazeppa reveal himself. A 
 terrible hater, indeed ! Nevertheless, as I have 
 since thought, his quick wit saved us that day 
 from the fate of Falbofsky and of many others 
 mistaken by the Streltsi for Naryshkins. 
 
 Wise folks declare that the real secret of the 
 rising of the Streltsi was the rivalry between the 
 two factions represented by the families of the two 
 wives of the Tsar Alexis the Miloslavskys and 
 the Naryshkins. It is natural that the Milo- 
 slavskys, relations of Ivan, the incompetent prince,
 
 54 MAZEPPA 
 
 and of Sophia, the princess upon whom Mazeppa 
 had set ambitious eyes, should have desired that 
 their own nominee should sit in the highest place, 
 rather than a younger prince of the Naryshkin 
 faction, and it is said that the Miloslavskys it was 
 who aroused the Streltsi, by foolish reports, to 
 wage war upon their rivals and to murder all upon 
 whom they could lay hands that were of Naryshkin 
 blood. 
 
 The upshot of the Streltsi rising was, shortly, 
 this : that Ivan and Peter became joint Tsars, in 
 name, under the Regency of Sophia, in whom was 
 vested the real power, the elder Tsar being both 
 sickly and incompetent, and the younger though 
 a child of spirit and showing promise of character 
 even at this early time a mere fledgling of ten 
 years. 
 
 This was a victory for the Miloslavskys, of 
 course, for Sophia was the daughter of the Tsar 
 Alexis by his first wife, the Miloslavsky princess, 
 and the incompetent Ivan was her full brother. 
 
 I saw the princess now for the first time, and 
 was not greatly charmed by her appearance. She 
 was stunted and squat in form, sickly in com- 
 plexion, and far from attractive in feature 
 and expression. She smiled very kindly upon 
 Mazeppa, who assumed his most winning air. 
 But whatever Mazeppa may have thought or
 
 MAZEPPA 55 
 
 hoped, it appeared to me that his ambitions in 
 this direction must be doomed to disappointment ; 
 for the lady it seemed to me was already 
 provided with a lover, one Galitsin, who never 
 left her side and who frowned at Mazeppa's 
 advances as though he would have no poacher 
 upon his domain. Moreover, Mazeppa was as yet 
 as far as ever from the Hetmanship, and what 
 possible chance should he have of securing a 
 Tsar's daughter for bride unless he were already 
 the elected chief of the Cossack tribes ? Add to 
 this, that the lady was now Regent, and it will be 
 seen that Mazeppa's chances were slight indeed. I 
 said as much to Mazeppa, who laughed and replied 
 that Galitsin was welcome to the princess. 
 
 ' I am Galitsin's lover no less than hers ! ' he 
 said. * Politically I am deeply in love with both, 
 and there my love ends.'
 
 56 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 I HAD several opportunities of seeing the two 
 young Tsars, as well as the Regent, at this time. 
 The contrast between the elder and younger 
 sovereign was almost incredible Ivan, the elder, 
 a puny, unwholesome, puffy, sickly-looking lad of 
 some fifteen years, timid and inclined to weep 
 when spoken to, glad to retire from the public 
 eye ; Peter, the younger, upright, and very tall 
 for his age he was scarcely more than ten, indeed, 
 but he was already taller than his brother fear- 
 less, dominant, gazing round with the proud and 
 defiant air of the lion, answering boldly and 
 with dignity both to the questions which were 
 addressed to himself and also those to which 
 Ivan should have replied. For when Ivan was 
 addressed he would flush and hesitate and look 
 as though he must presently burst into tears. 
 Then he would glance at his brother, and the 
 child Peter would speak for him, unless indeed 
 the Regent were present, in which case she would 
 reply for both.
 
 MAZEPPA 57 
 
 The two princes occupied a double throne, 
 which consisted of two chairs separated by a 
 space of a foot or two, which space was covered 
 or veiled by a silken screen, behind which sat and 
 listened, and sometimes prompted, the Regent 
 Sophia. 
 
 I soon conversed with the little Tsar Peter, 
 whose frank manner captivated me. Seeing that 
 I was a Cossack officer, he questioned me closely 
 as to the feats of horsemanship for which our 
 tribes are famous, bidding me describe some of 
 these, which, to the best of my power, I did. 
 
 'When I am older you shall come up to 
 Moscow and teach me,' he said : * I shall learn all 
 these tricks of riding. What are the qualities 
 necessary for one who will excel ? ' 
 
 ' First, patience in practice, Highness,' said I ; 
 ' then suppleness of body, and, chief of all, 
 courage or nerve, and the determination to laugh 
 when you tumble and not to be deterred by a 
 little pain or even a broken bone.' 
 
 c Well, you shall show me one day,' said the 
 Prince, ' and afterwards I will decide whether it 
 is worth while to learn.' 
 
 Mazeppa was very friendly with both Sophia 
 and her favourite friend and counsellor, Galitsin, 
 one of the ablest men that Russia has yet pro- 
 duced, though a poor general, as we shall soon
 
 58 MAZEPPA 
 
 learn. Between these three there were held 
 many secret councils, and I have little doubt that 
 Mazeppa at this time arranged many things both 
 to his own satisfaction and to theirs with regard 
 to the future politics of our tribes. He learned 
 his lesson well, indeed, for I know that he was 
 never afterwards in doubt when any point arose 
 for discussion as to the wishes of our suzerain 
 power Russia. 
 
 Mazeppa had resigned his ambitious matri- 
 monial project without, as it seemed, a pang of 
 regret. But, as though to console himself for 
 the sacrifice, he bestowed much time to the 
 society of one who could scarcely have been more 
 different in every respect from the Regent Sophia, 
 a little maiden daughter of a well-to-do Boyar, 
 one Kurbatof, by a French wife Vera Kurbatof, 
 who by virtue of her semi-foreign birth was not 
 condemned to the seclusion of the terem, or 
 * woman's department/ in which most maidens 
 of her day were obliged to pass their existence. 
 
 Vera was very young and very beautiful, and 
 there is no doubt that Mazeppa soon lost his 
 heart to her, delighting in her society and spend- 
 ing all the time that he could spare in the 
 endeavour to make himself agreeable to her. 
 Vera, it seemed to me, was less fascinated by 
 Mazeppa than he by her, a circumstance which I
 
 MAZEPPA 59 
 
 was glad to perceive, for throughout our long 
 friendship it has been my habit to pity any lady 
 upon whom Mazeppa is disposed to bestow the 
 illusory boon of his affections. Mazeppa's heart 
 was ever soft and susceptible, and ever inconstant. 
 Woe to every maiden who should listen to the 
 voice of this most fickle of wooers, for his love 
 was a hostage for many tears. 
 
 It were wasted time indeed to dwell upon the 
 tale of this as of any other of Mazeppa's excursions 
 in love, but that in this particular matter there is 
 much to be told that concerns others besides 
 himself, for this Vera is to occupy a large space 
 in these records. 
 
 And the first intimation I had that there might 
 be more in this than in others of the countless 
 love affairs in which I have seen my friend 
 involved was that one day shortly before we 
 left Moscow to return to the Ukraine the 
 Princess Sophia bade me, with a laugh, * look 
 whereto converge the eyes of thy friend and of 
 another.' 
 
 I followed the gaze of the Princess : she 
 was looking at Vera Kurbatof and glanced at 
 Mazeppa. * That is one pair,' she said ; * now 
 seek for thyself the other.' 
 
 I looked round at the roomful of courtiers 
 and others, for there were many present taking
 
 60 MAZEPPA 
 
 the oath of allegiance some, and others spectators 
 and officials but I could see none who seemed to 
 stare, like Mazeppa, at this fair young girl. 
 
 * Look higher ! ' the Princess said, smiling. 
 Then it occurred to me to glance at the two 
 
 Tsars, seated upon their twin throne, and to my 
 wonder I perceived that the eyes of Ivan were 
 riveted upon Vera. His pale, puffed face was 
 somewhat flushed and animated more so than I 
 had yet seen it and he seemed for once interested 
 and absorbed, instead of listless and weary and 
 worried. 
 
 * It will be desirable and most necessary that 
 my brother should one day choose for himself a 
 wife,' said Sophia, ' and in a year, or at most two 
 years, his marriage may be arranged. It would 
 be a matter for which to praise God if he should 
 show any desire to enter the wedded state, 
 and a mercy for which we have scarcely dared to 
 hope.' 
 
 Being somewhat slow of wit, especially when 
 in conversation with great people, for at such 
 moments a certain shyness often assails me, I 
 did not at once comprehend why her Highness 
 favoured me with this communication. 
 
 ' Your friend Mazeppa should be warned,' 
 she continued, * that he treads on dangerous 
 ground.'
 
 MAZEPPA 6 1 
 
 Then I understood, and laughed together with 
 her Highness. 
 
 ' My friend does not take seriously the affairs 
 of the heart,' I said. * In two days he will leave 
 Moscow, and in three he will forget that he has 
 seen this lady.' 
 
 ( And she ? That is also important. My 
 poor brother should have, if possible, a heart that 
 is untainted. Mazeppa is a handsome man.' 
 
 * As to that, Highness,' I said, * I cannot 
 judge, for I have neither spoken to Mazeppa of 
 the matter nor yet watched it for myself. But at 
 any rate I will warn my friend.' 
 
 * Do so,' said her Highness, * but not as from 
 me.' 
 
 I did warn Mazeppa, telling him that 1 had 
 observed the Tsar Ivan look in such a manner at 
 the girl that one might suppose he was attracted 
 by her. Mazeppa laughed much when I told 
 him. 
 
 * The youth is one of God's afflicted,' he said. 
 * There is not life enough in his veins to warm 
 him into admiration for the charms of a maiden. 
 What, would the Regent have Vera marry that 
 dolt ? As soon let a maiden mate with a figure 
 of clay.' 
 
 * See for yourself how he gazes at her and 
 flushes, even now ! ' I said.
 
 62 MAZEPPA 
 
 Mazeppa looked and laughed scornfully. 
 
 'Bah ! ' he said. 'He is gazing at the jewel 
 that hangs at her neck ; it moves with her breath- 
 ing, and he stares at it as a cat would. You are 
 a fool, Chelminsky, to speak of that imbecile and 
 of love in the same breath.' 
 
 This was certainly possible, though it appeared 
 to me that the fact was otherwise, and that this 
 unfortunate prince had actually found a face which 
 it pleased him to gaze upon. 
 
 ' Nevertheless,' I said, ' without doubt they 
 will one day cause this youth to marry someone, 
 for the succession's sake ! ' 
 
 * Then Heaven have pity upon the lady,' he 
 laughed, f for imagine what it would be for a 
 woman to be mated with a thing no more beautiful 
 and man-like than this, even though they should 
 call him Tsar of Russia ! Moreover, my friend, 
 look on this prince and on that which is the 
 likelier to dominate when both are grown out of 
 leading-strings ? Peter is ten times the better 
 man already, ay, and better now than the other 
 will ever be ! ' 
 
 * She is a beautiful girl, however,' I said, c and 
 it is no wonder that even a half-man, like Ivan, 
 should gaze upon her face with admiration ! ' 
 
 * Oh, I grant that,' said Mazeppa, flushing ; 
 ' the best and highest of men might so gaze upon
 
 MAZEPPA 63 
 
 her and thank his God for the eyes that were given 
 him to see so fair a sight withal ! ' 
 
 ' Ha ! ' I said. ' Mazeppa, that is more than 
 thy usual praise for a woman : is it possible that 
 thou hast it in thy mind to run a race with the 
 Tsar for a pretty wench ? That would endanger 
 thy favour with her Highness ! ' 
 
 4 Bah ! ' said Mazeppa. * I tell you that he 
 gazes at the jewel at her throat because it flashes in 
 the sun : set a light dancing upon the wall, and he 
 will stare at that. As for the girl, it is not my 
 habit to do things in a hurry, and least of all will I 
 marry in haste ; but she is certainly one of the 
 fairest of women that I have yet seen ! Think you 
 such as she would mate with an Ivan, even though 
 he be half a Tsar ? I think she would die first ! ' 
 
 As to that I knew nothing, for I did not pre- 
 tend to understand the heart of woman. But I 
 knew this, that Russian Tsars marry whom they 
 will, be they devils like Ivan the Terrible, or 
 unsightly, unwholesome things like this other 
 Ivan ; for either the maidens must, though they 
 would not, or else they consider that the man 
 matters little so long as there is a crown to be 
 worn, and one may call herself Tsaritsa ! 
 
 I became somewhat friendly with Vera Kur- 
 batof, and before I left Moscow I took occasion 
 to ask her how she liked my friend Mazeppa.
 
 64 MAZEPPA 
 
 { He is handsome,' she said, * and has a good 
 manner, and he is cleverer than all these together 
 except Galitsin ; but he is cunning, and I am afraid 
 of him ; also he looks as though he might be 
 treacherous. On the whole, I do not like him ! 
 Yet, if I should ever need such help as the wit or 
 cunning of a man might furnish me withal, I 
 should trust his wit sooner than another's, so long 
 as I knew that he lost nothing by helping me.' 
 
 I laughed much at the time over Vera's saying. 
 But afterwards, that is when next Vera's destiny 
 crossed my own, I remembered it, for I had then 
 reason to believe that Mazeppa had somehow com- 
 pacted with the girl to stand her friend in certain 
 contingencies. And that Mazeppa was one who 
 would never work without pay I knew well !
 
 MAZEPPA 65 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 ABOUT one year from the time of our return to 
 the Hetman's Court after this visit to Moscow, as 
 I reckon it, there began to subsist a state of con- 
 stant warfare between Mazeppa and myself; not 
 a warfare of thrust and blow, of swords or of 
 pistols, indeed, for we never came to violence, 
 but a warfare of wit, in which the desire to 
 obtain the better of one another was the prin- 
 cipal end and motive. 
 
 We had been, on the whole, good friends 
 up to this time. I had, indeed, begun very 
 gradually to understand Mazeppa and to regard 
 him, in consequence, with more suspicion and 
 less respect than formerly ; but I now soon 
 realised that I must treat him differently, that 
 I must in fact dissemble with him, since I found 
 that he dissembled constantly in dealing with 
 myself, if I desired to live upon equal terms with 
 my friend and not to lag for ever behind in the 
 race of life. 
 
 That which first angered and set me to use 
 my wits against him was this : 
 
 F
 
 66 MAZEPPA 
 
 I was sent in command of my thousand of 
 Cossacks upon an expedition, half scouting and 
 half punitive, in connection with the Tartars of 
 Azof, an expedition which, though its results 
 were meagre, occupied half a year. Now, though 
 I have said little about such matters in connec- 
 tion with myself, preferring to regard Mazeppa 
 as the hero of my history and to dwell upon that 
 which concerns him rather than my own affairs, 
 I will now state that there was a maiden at the 
 Court of the Hetman towards whose charms I 
 was not indifferent. I had had many affairs of 
 the heart : we Cossacks never lack for friends of 
 the fair sex, and I may say without boasting that 
 my success in such matters had for ever been 
 satisfactory, and quite on a par with that of 
 Mazeppa himself, who prided himself upon being 
 irresistible. 
 
 Now this lady, Olga Panief, was young and 
 proud, and pre-eminent among Cossack maidens 
 for comeliness. There was scarcely one of us 
 who lived within the shadow of the Hetmanate 
 who had not, at one time or another, laid siege 
 to her heart, which, however, had never until 
 quite recently capitulated. 
 
 Even when, as all supposed, I had at length caused 
 the beleaguered one to lower her flag and permit 
 the entrance of Love the Conqueror, 1 was not at
 
 MAZEPPA 67 
 
 all so sure of my conquest as others supposed, 
 and when I went with my Cossacks among the 
 Tartars I rode with an unquiet heart, for I knew 
 for certain two things the first, that Mazeppa 
 would profit by my absence in order to re-invest 
 the citadel which should be mine by right of con- 
 quest ; and the second, that my hold upon the fair 
 Olga was not so secure but that she might even now 
 lend a willing ear to so artful a singer as Mazeppa. 
 
 For what actually happened I was by no 
 means prepared. 
 
 My first visit on my return was to the house 
 of Panief, the father of fair Olga, and one of the 
 seniors among the Cossack colonels. 
 
 But, to my astonishment, the Panief mansion 
 was closed, and the family, evidently, were out of 
 town. 
 
 Then I went to Mazeppa, for my thoughts 
 and suspicions turned as naturally to him as a 
 man would look up at the clouds when rain fell. 
 
 On the way to Mazeppa's house I met 
 Sotsky, of whom I inquired what had become of 
 the Paniefs. 
 
 * Oh, that is a little bit of our friend 
 Mazeppa's handiwork,' he laughed. * Mazeppa 
 took advantage of the absence of someone to lay 
 violent siege in a certain quarter. He had no 
 success, and this is the result.' 
 
 F2
 
 68 MAZEPPA 
 
 * What do you mean ? ' I said. * Where are 
 the Paniefs ? What can Mazeppa have to do 
 with their disappearance ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, ask Mazeppa himself ; it is not my 
 business ! ' Sotsky laughed, and he went upon 
 his way without further explanation. 
 
 Sotsky's words and manner entirely puzzled 
 me, and I scarcely knew how to approach 
 Mazeppa, whether with sword in hand and 
 accusations in mouth or as one who knows 
 nothing. 
 
 Of what, indeed, could I accuse him ? 
 
 Mazeppa betrayed no agitation. c He will 
 play the fox,' thought I, and I determined that 
 I too would act both cautiously and with cunning 
 equal to his own. But Mazeppa was frank, and 
 disarmed me at once. 
 
 * Your first question will be " Where is 
 Olga ? " he said, laughing. And my answer 
 is prepared, " She is in Moscow ! " 
 
 * In Moscow ! ' I replied, astonished. * What 
 does she there ? ' 
 
 * I do not wonder that you are surprised. If 
 you had visited a dozen other houses in which 
 dwell maidens of rank and good appearance, you 
 would have found them also deserted, like 
 the Paniefs'. During your absence there came a 
 messenger from the Grand Duchess, the Regent.
 
 MAZEPPA 69 
 
 Do you remember when we were last in Moscow 
 that you played the prophet and declared how 
 one day they would cause the Tsar Ivan to take 
 a wife ? You were right, and I who laughed 
 the idea to scorn was wrong. The word has 
 gone out for the maidens to assemble in Moscow 
 for the Tsar's inspection.' 
 
 'And to whom,' I asked angrily, 'was the 
 selection entrusted in this district ? To you, 
 Mazeppa, I'll be bound ! ' 
 
 'You may see the letter of her Highness,' 
 said Mazeppa, producing the document and 
 handing it to me. * If you are angry that Olga 
 Panief was sent, you are wrong ; for go she 
 would, whether you or I willed it or willed 
 it not ! ' 
 
 ' I think that is a lie, Mazeppa,' I said fiercely. 
 * I will tell you what has happened. In my 
 absence you have sought to reap in my field, 
 but Olga would have none of you, and in 
 return you have included her name with those 
 from among whom the Tsar is to make his 
 choice.' 
 
 * Not so,' said Mazeppa ; ' you are angry and 
 make unjust accusations. Olga, as I have said, 
 was determined to go ; she would take her 
 chance like the rest, she declared, and when I 
 said, "What of Chelminsky, Olga?" she replied
 
 yo MAZEPPA 
 
 that both Chelminsky and I and any other Cossack 
 lover might go hang if the Tsar would have her, 
 even a Tsar that spluttered when he spoke and 
 played with a child's toys. I swear that what I 
 say is true. Go to Moscow and see for yourself, 
 if you will.' 
 
 Knowing Olga as I did, I was aware that it 
 might weli be as Mazeppa said. 
 
 ' It would serve the minx right,' I replied 
 angrily, * if the Tsar should choose her ; but of 
 that there is little chance, for I think his choice is 
 already made, and this assembling of the maidens 
 is a formality, a concession to ancient customs, and 
 no more.' 
 
 Mazeppa winced at this, by which I knew that 
 he had not yet forgotten his infatuation for Vera 
 Kurbatof. 
 
 * I know not to what choice of the Tsar's you 
 refer,' he said. 'They would scarcely assemble 
 the maidens if it were as you say.' 
 
 4 If, as you admit, I was a good prophet on 
 one occasion, why should I not prove all a prophet, 
 and not only half ? ' I laughed. * You remember 
 well enough that I bade you see how the Tsar 
 watched the face of Vera Kurbatof ; be sure that 
 his choice began and will end with her, even 
 though a Mazeppa should woo in rivalry.' 
 
 ' I think not,' said Mazeppa. * She would
 
 MAZEPPA 71 
 
 never ; ' he paused, and paced the floor awhile 
 
 in thought. 
 
 I read the Regent's letter : it was short, and 
 merely made known that it had been decreed that 
 the elder Tsar should take a wife. Maidens of 
 the desired age about seventeen would 
 assemble at the Kremlin Palace by the day fixed 
 for their arrival, and those agents appointed in the 
 various districts would be answerable for the 
 despatch of all such maidens, of suitable rank 
 and age, as were to be found in their locality. 
 Mazeppa, being known to her Highness, was by 
 her appointed agent for the Ukraine towns and 
 district. 
 
 * You have acted unfriendly, Mazeppa,' I said. 
 'You should have reflected that being, in a 
 measure, affianced to myself, Olga might be 
 exempted from this formality. The power is in 
 your hands to send or to -exempt a maiden.' 
 
 ' I tell you, my friend, that the girl would 
 take no denial : she would go. She spoke of you 
 and of me in a breath, declaring that neither for 
 your sake nor for mine would she surrender so 
 great a chance of advancement. " I am no more 
 Chelminsky's than yours " those were her words 
 " and I hope to heaven that I shall be neither 
 his nor yours, but the Tsar's ! " 
 
 * I know not whether to believe you or not,' I
 
 72 MAZEPPA 
 
 said, and Mazeppa replied with a laugh that in 
 that case I had better go to Moscow and ask the 
 lady for myself. * She is a saucy minx,' he said, 
 * and will not withhold the truth to save your feel- 
 ings. As the agent of her Highness in this 
 matter I am bound to be in Moscow on the day 
 appointed, in order to see that the maidens from 
 my district are duly assembled. The day appointed 
 is but a week hence : travel with me if you will. I 
 shall be glad of your company, and perhaps also of 
 your assistance in " 
 
 Mazeppa did not finish his speech, but 
 relapsed into thoughtful silence. I did not 
 think twice upon his broken sentence, imagining 
 that he meant he would need help in collecting 
 and marshalling the army of Cossack maidens, 
 which would be his duty. 
 
 As for me, I felt aggrieved and angry that 
 OlgaPanief should have spoken and acted thus. I 
 suppose my love for the girl could have been no 
 more strong or real than hers for myself, however, 
 for certainly 1 was more offended than heart- 
 broken ; and if any one feeling predominated in 
 my mind over the rest it was an ardent hope that 
 she might be disappointed of her ambition, and 
 that the Tsar would not so much as glance at her. 
 
 Nevertheless, I determined to travel to 
 Moscow with Mazeppa. The ceremony of
 
 MAZEPPA 73 
 
 choosing a bride for the Tsar and especially 
 such a Tsar as this one must be of overwhelm- 
 ing interest. Moreover, I felt certain that the 
 Tsar would choose Vera Kurbatof, and I was 
 curious to see what would then happen ; what 
 Vera would do or say, and what Mazeppa would 
 do. I even found out now, for the first time, 
 that I myself began to feel a strange interest in 
 this girl, and in the crisis which might now be 
 before her.
 
 74 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 MEANWHILE a significant thing happened with 
 regard to her who was generally believed to be 
 as good as chosen beforehand to be Tsaritsa. 
 
 A sight to make angels weep and devils 
 smile was it, men said, when Vera Kurbatof 
 before the great choosing, and I think before the 
 assemblage even of the maidens was summoned 
 to the palace in order that the bridegroom Tsar 
 (forsooth !) might first see her at his leisure and 
 without the excitement of a throng around him. 
 
 There were two or three other maidens 
 besides Vera who were thus, like her, subjected 
 to a preliminary and private inspection by Ivan. 
 These were the daughters of Boyars whose 
 position at Court brought them constantly into 
 the presence of the Tsar, and whom he therefore 
 knew well and could meet and speak to without 
 overmuch timidity and shyness. These Boyars, 
 by Sophia's decree, should have the first chance 
 for their daughters ; for it was hoped that Ivan
 
 MAZEPPA 75 
 
 might more readily take a fancy to the child of 
 one whom he already knew than to some 
 stranger. 
 
 * He will never take a fancy,' some said, 
 laughing, * for there is nothing of a man in him.' 
 
 But others declared that he had gazed twice 
 at this maiden or that, and some knew among 
 whom was I that his eyes had rested in a 
 peculiar manner upon the face of Vera on a 
 certain occasion in a manner, indeed, which 
 would seem to indicate more of the man in Ivan 
 that some believed to exist. 
 
 The question was, did he remember his old- 
 time fancy for her face, or was it so passing and 
 passionless a sentiment that he had forgotten it 
 during the score of months that had gone by 
 since that day on which I had observed it ? 
 
 I have heard from those who were present 
 that his most gracious and most unmanlike 
 Highness took no notice whatever of the 
 daughters of those faithful Boyars who lived 
 about the Court, excepting to curse this one and 
 strike and spit at that one, and to burst into tears 
 and upbraid his sister when brought in to see and 
 consider a third. 
 
 But the interview with Vera was a different 
 matter and a thing to be spoken of by itself. 
 Here is a description of her visit, as told to me
 
 y6 MAZEPPA 
 
 by one who saw it with his own eyes ! a scene, 
 as I have said, to make angels weep ! 
 
 Vera was sent for without notice and without 
 information as to the object of her visit. 
 
 * I have sent for you, child,' said the Regent 
 very kindly, * because I am favourably impressed 
 by your appearance : you are certainly as fair as 
 any of the maidens yet arrived, and it is possible 
 that a great, a supreme honour may be in store 
 for you.' 
 
 Vera hung her head, abashed : she would 
 have renounced all claim to the honour implied, 
 but she durst not. 
 
 ' I see you are overcome by the thought of 
 this greatness,' continued Sophia, taking the girl's 
 hand and patting it within her own. * Take 
 heart, child, for indeed you would make as fair a 
 Tsaritsa as we could wish to see.' 
 
 'Oh, I dare not, I cannot, Highness,' mur- 
 mured poor Vera. ( I am not the stuff of which 
 Tsaritsas should be made : I have no ambition.' 
 
 'Then begin now to take a larger view of 
 life. Listen, it has been whispered me that his 
 Highness my brother looks kindlier upon you 
 than upon any other maiden that he has yet 
 seen : there, sweet one, does not that awaken thy 
 slumbering fancy ? He is a great king remember 
 this though, to say truth, but an afflicted youth.
 
 MAZEPPA 77 
 
 Do not lose sight of the greater issue by foolishly 
 magnifying the lesser. The Tsar is the Tsar, 
 whether he be lusty or afflicted ; a handsome 
 youth or, by the will of God, a pale invalid. 
 Tell me, are you great enough to love the Tsar 
 for his greatness, which you would share as 
 Tsaritsa ? ' 
 
 Vera hung her head and remained silent. 
 
 * Speak, girl ! ' said Sophia, a little less kindly 
 than before. 
 
 * Madam, having seen so little of the Tsar 
 and and oh, Madam, how should I love him ? 
 I revere him, as Tsar and head of the Boyars, 
 but to love is different.' 
 
 * Well, well, fool ; in order to marry wisely it 
 is not always necessary to love. Love yourself, 
 that is the first thing ; if you truly love yourself 
 you should seek your own good : is not that fair 
 logic ? What better thing can a maiden have 
 than to be chosen Tsaritsa ? I say there is no 
 better destiny for a maiden under Heaven ! ' 
 
 * To love and to be loved is the best, Madam, 
 for some,' said Vera, hesitating. 
 
 ' Tut, fool ! love does not wear for long. A 
 high position and power these are the lasting 
 blessings, and they carry love with them yes, 
 and every other good thing besides. Moreover, 
 if to love and to be loved is for you the be-all
 
 78 MAZEPPA 
 
 and end-all, let him love you, for his part, say I ; 
 and as for you if you cannot love him, love 
 whom you will ! ' 
 
 f Madam ! ' exclaimed Vera, and was about to 
 say I know not what indiscreet thing, when the 
 laughter of the two or three who were present, 
 in which Sophia herself joined, interrupted her. 
 Vera flushed deeply, but remained silent. 
 
 4 Well, child, speak,' said the Regent ; * why 
 are you dumb ? ' 
 
 { I have nothing to say, Highness. I have 
 been used to see things otherwise than as your 
 Highness would now teach me ! ' 
 
 * The way of wisdom, little fool, is to accept 
 thankfully the gifts which the gods provide,' said 
 Sophia, ' whether it be a lover or position or 
 anything else that is good. Here you have 
 greatness offered you : that is, it might be offered 
 you if you should play your cards wisely ; also 
 love, of a kind ! ' she ended with a quick glance 
 at Galitsin and the others. 
 
 Galitsin laughed aloud, but turned aside to 
 hide it. 
 
 ' I wish for neither, Madam,' said Vera 
 boldly. 
 
 * Well, Lord bless us, little fool ! ' exclaimed 
 Sophia, waxing impatient. * We are all subjects, 
 both you and I and all of us, and as such bound
 
 MAZEPPA 79 
 
 to obey the Tsar whether we will or not : you 
 admit that much, I doubt not. What if the Tsar 
 desires thee is he not to be obeyed because thou 
 art a fool ? Dear Saints ! beware what you do, 
 girl ! To stand against the Tsar himself and to 
 resist his will is the worst of all foolishness ! ' 
 
 * Madam, have pity ! ' said Vera, falling on her 
 knees. 
 
 The Regent bustled her quickly to her feet. 
 * I,' she exclaimed, ' what have I to do with the 
 matter ? It is not I that choose a bride, but the 
 Tsar. If he choose thee, it is thou that art 
 greatly honoured, not I ! Stand upon thy feet, 
 and shame not thyself before these men. Send 
 for the Tsar, Galitsin, and let us have this comedy 
 played and done with.' Poor Vera fell a second 
 time to her knees. 
 
 * Madam, he will not make his choice here 
 and now ? You would not permit it he must 
 see all there are many fairer than I and more 
 
 fitted to be Tsaritsa Oh, do not let him come 
 
 near me now ! ' 
 
 c Peace, raver, and let me speak ! ' replied 
 Sophia grimly. * His Highness will not make his 
 final choice here and now ; but he shall see thee 
 because it is said that he has shown a preference 
 for thee. It is necessary that he take a wife, 
 understand it or understand it not ; it is neces-
 
 8o MAZEPPA 
 
 sary for the dynasty. Very well, if he will choose 
 for himself, so much the better for all parties ; if 
 he will not, so much the worse ; but in any case 
 he will marry, and, if necessary, the choosing shall 
 be done for him.' 
 
 Then in came Galitsin, and with him angry 
 to be disturbed, and asking querulously the reason 
 Ivan the Tsar. The Prince was in full speech 
 when he entered the room, but when his eye fell 
 upon Vera he became suddenly silent. He gazed 
 at her fixedly for a moment, opening his mouth 
 and shutting it again. Then he turned to his 
 sister. 
 
 Why have you sent for me ? it is not a recep- 
 tion,' he said. * I will not see strangers without 
 Peter ; Peter is not here.' Then his eyes sought 
 Vera's face once more and remained fixed there. 
 
 * There are no strangers, Ivashka,' said 
 Sophia ; f and there is no reception ; only this 
 beautiful maiden is come to show thee how fair 
 she is look well at her.' 
 
 f She is fair enough,' said Ivan ; * but I care 
 for no woman. I will not marry, Sophia ; do not 
 worry me.' 
 
 1 Ah, but how different is this one from the 
 rest, only see, Ivashka what eyes, what hair ! 
 had ever maiden such a form ? mark it well ! 
 She should sit at thy side when foreigners come,
 
 MAZEPPA 8 1 
 
 and should speak to them instead of thee ! A 
 fair thing to have for ever about one ! Happy 
 the man who may, if he will, possess her to gaze 
 upon and to fondle for his own. Come, take 
 her hand, Ivashka, and kiss it. She shall be 
 thine own if thou wilt have her.' 
 
 The Tsar's face had flushed during this 
 speech. At the end of it he actually took the girl's 
 hand in his own, smiling in her face, or leering, 
 as perhaps it might more accurately be called. 
 He even began to raise her fingers as though to 
 bring them to his lips, but at his touch Vera paled, 
 staggered, and would have fallen fainting to the 
 ground or into the Tsar's arms, but that Galitsin 
 caught her and laid her senseless form upon a 
 divan. 
 
 * See ! ' said Sophia triumphantly : * she is 
 overcome, brother, by the honour and the happi- 
 ness thou hast done her in thus noticing her 
 beauty above the others. Thou hast chosen well, 
 my soul ' 
 
 ' I have not chosen her I have not, I say,' 
 cried Ivan, stamping his foot and turning upon 
 the Regent. * Why do you speak foolishness ? 
 I want no woman. She is afraid of me ; do you 
 think 1 do not see it ? She might have suited, 
 if I must marry, but she is afraid of me and hates 
 me.'
 
 82 MAZEPPA 
 
 c Not so, not so, brother : only think, for a 
 maiden to be chosen Tsaritsa is no small thing ; 
 no wonder that she has fainted in the sudden 
 
 Joy 
 
 ' Sister, you are sometimes a fool, though 
 generally very wise,' said Ivan. * Be silent, I say, 
 and speak no more foolishness ! ' With which 
 words he turned and left the room, glancing back 
 for a moment at Vera lying unconscious upon her 
 divan. 
 
 Thereupon Sophia stamped and swore first, 
 and then laughed, while Galitsin only laughed, 
 and the two other witnesses being courtiers 
 knew not whether to laugh or to look grave, and so 
 the comedy ended. 
 
 A sight indeed to make angels weep !
 
 MAZEPPA 83 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 ONE would suppose that with so comprehensive 
 an order published throughout Russia, namely, 
 that the fairest maidens from every part should be 
 despatched to the city for the convenience of the 
 Tsar in his choice of a bride, the whole of Moscow 
 would be full of young women. And so, doubt- 
 less, would it have been but that a wise discretion 
 had been left in the hands of those agents in each 
 district to whom had been entrusted the duty of 
 selecting and despatching the maidens. Not all 
 who would fain have come were permitted to 
 make the journey. Many were first weeded out 
 as unfit before the final few, the very cream and 
 perfection of Russian maidenhood, were des- 
 patched to the capital. 
 
 Indeed, there were no more than two hundred, 
 in all, that now awaited in the terem of the palace 
 in the Kremlin the verdict of the Tsar or of those 
 who would choose for him. 
 
 I spoke with many of those who, like 
 Mazeppa, had been entrusted with the duty of 
 
 G?
 
 84 MAZEPPA 
 
 selection. Of these some made very merry over 
 their commission. 
 
 'One would suppose that every maiden in my 
 district,' said one, * was of the age of seventeen, 
 and beautiful, and virtuous, and healthy. I had 
 crowds to deal with and none would take " no " 
 for an answer. Believe me if you will, of the 
 thousand or more that offered themselves from 
 Novgorod, I am here at last with five maidens. I 
 know not how I shall dare return to my home, 
 for I have now nearly one thousand inveterate 
 enemies, ready, I doubt not, to tear me to pieces ! ' 
 
 1 How is a man to say this one is beautiful or 
 that one ? ' said another. * As for me, I brought 
 all who offered themselves, which was luckily 
 only eight girls, my district being a narrow 
 one. How should I say whom the Grand 
 Duchess might think handsome, and whom 
 plain ? It is her affair, not mine ; her eyes are 
 the judges.' 
 
 * What ! is the Tsar to have no word in the 
 choice ? ' I asked, laughing. 
 
 * Lord as if he could say yea or nay for 
 himself ! He would weep and ask to be taken 
 back to his play-room. " I desire none of them," 
 he would say. "Why should I marry any of 
 these strangers ? " 
 
 All present laughed at this, but one said :
 
 MAZEPPA 85 
 
 * It is of the maidens I think. Were I one 
 of them I should pray to God from this moment 
 until the last hour of the choice that the Tsar 
 might choose any one of the maidens rather than 
 myself. Imagine, my brothers, the being mated 
 with such a thing ! A Tsar that dribbles at the 
 mouth and chatters to himself, but will speak to 
 no other if he can avoid it. A Tsar that falls in 
 a fit if startled or loudly spoken to ; a creature 
 that if he were not a Tsar must be laughed at, 
 or wept over ; a thing to be hidden from the 
 eyes of his fellows ! Yet here is this frolic of 
 nature paraded as though he were a man like 
 another, in order that he may condemn one of 
 God's fairest creatures to the unspeakable horror 
 of marrying him ! ' 
 
 * That is foolish talk, Katkof,' said another. 
 ' These young women come to marry the crown, 
 or the throne, or the sceptre what you will. 
 What matter who it is that sits arrayed as king ? 
 Moreover, what signifies a marriage with such as 
 Ivan ? It is to be another nurse, another attend- 
 ant, and there is the end ; only that she will be 
 called Tsaritsa, and will sit higher than every 
 other woman in the land ! ' 
 
 I suppose that both opinions were right and 
 both wrong. Some maidens there be, the 
 majority I doubt not, who would accept all
 
 86 MAZEPPA 
 
 things if only they might have the title and 
 position of Tsaritsa. A few would pray to God 
 with tears night and day that the Tsar, in making 
 choice, would pass them over. They would 
 grimace, or develop a weary look by keeping 
 awake at nights, or they would cry their noses 
 red and their eyes swollen ! Anything to escape 
 so hateful a destiny as to be chosen Tsaritsa to 
 such a Tsar ! 
 
 Vera Kurbatof was not among those who were 
 obliged to live during the days of selection within 
 the terem of the palace. This did not mean that 
 she was exempt from competition : an the con- 
 trary, it was told me that she stood at the present 
 moment first in order of probability. That is, 
 the Tsar was supposed to regard her already 
 with favour ; and this final assemblage of maidens 
 had been brought about merely in deference to 
 old customs, and in order that it might be seen, 
 before a final decision were made, whether this 
 Vera were really supreme among her peers, or 
 whether there might not possibly come one 
 whose superiority was so marked that even Ivan 
 must observe it. 
 
 For the Tsar must have the very best ; that 
 was the central idea. 
 
 By a lucky chance I happened to meet Vera 
 Kurbatof on the very day after our arrival in
 
 MAZEPPA 87 
 
 Moscow. She was walking with the old nurse 
 who was ever her companion out of doors, and 
 she was strictly veiled, in the fashion of the time ; 
 for until the Tsar Peter afterwards changed this 
 and many other things after his own drastic, auto- 
 cratic fashion, women in Russia were, like their 
 sisters in Eastern countries, discouraged from 
 showing their faces in public. 
 
 I recognised her by her voice, which was a 
 peculiarly sweet one, and as we met I spoke to 
 her, making my profoundest reverence in order to 
 atone for the boldness of addressing her without 
 permission. 
 
 { I think you are the Barishnya Vera Kurbatof,' 
 I said. f If I am right, let your voice bear the 
 blame of betraying your incognito.' 
 
 She started. * Yes, I am she ! ' she said, * and 
 you yes I remember, you are the friend of the 
 Cossack Mazeppa.' 
 
 1 May I not stand on my own feet as the 
 Cossack Chelminsky ? ' I said, making a show of 
 laughing, though I felt somewhat aggrieved that 
 she, of all others, should have remembered me 
 not for myself, but in virtue of my connection 
 with Mazeppa. 
 
 ' Forgive me, sir,' she said, * I do, indeed, 
 remember both you and your name, but it 
 happened that I was thinking of Mazeppa. I
 
 88 MAZEPPA 
 
 have thought more than once lately of your 
 friend, for for a reason.' 
 
 ' Worse and worse ! ' I said. * Now I am 
 jealous, indeed ! May I know why Mazeppa 
 is so fortunate as to have been the subject of your 
 thoughts ?' 
 
 * Forgive me, I am distracted at present ; I 
 scarcely know what I am saying. I desire very 
 much to see your friend. I have longed day and 
 night to see him, because I cannot tell you why, 
 excepting that I am in great trouble and danger 
 and I need his assistance, which he once placed at 
 my disposal/ 
 
 * May I not be upon an equality with him by 
 doing the same ? All my wit and all my power 
 are at your service. I am sure that I am as ready 
 to serve you as he.' 
 
 { I do not doubt it, and and if it were ordi- 
 nary service I should accept your offer most 
 gladly, but that which Mazeppa suggested was a 
 particular service and must not be spoken of, 
 excepting to himself.' 
 
 f What then would you wish me to do ? ' I 
 asked, feeling much mortified. 
 
 * I would have you tell him that the time has 
 nearly come when he must redeem his promise, if 
 it is ever to be redeemed,' she said. * Soon it 
 will be too late ; the danger I feared, or rather
 
 MAZEPPA 89 
 
 the danger which I refused to recognise, has 
 proved a real one. It was he that pointed it out, 
 half in jest and half in earnest, but it has come 
 true.' 
 
 * I will tell you that the secret is no secret for 
 me ! ' I laughed. < The danger you are in is 
 this, that the Tsar Ivan desires to make a Tsaritsa 
 of you and you desire it not. Am I right ? ' 
 
 * Did Mazeppa tell you this ? ' she asked. 
 ' Oh ! did he send any message that he would 
 come to help me to do that which he promised 
 in case of imminent danger ? ' 
 
 * Mazeppa gave me no message. As for the 
 Tsar, it was I that showed Mazeppa which way 
 the wind blew, not Mazeppa me. I saw how Ivan 
 gazed at you, and bade Mazeppa look also. He 
 feigned to think nothing of the matter ; but I 
 perceive that he thought badly enough of it to 
 warn you and to promise assistance.' 
 
 * Alas ! what am I to do ? Supposing that 
 among these maidens there is none that happens 
 to please his fancy then I am lost ! ' 
 
 * Think whether I cannot help you as well as 
 Mazeppa, whom, as you told me, you fear or 
 dislike.' 
 
 * Hush ! do not say that ! It was thoughtful 
 and kind of him to foresee danger and to suggest 
 a remedy. I should be ungracious if I accepted
 
 90 MAZEPPA 
 
 your offer while his own still holds. Is he in 
 Moscow ? ' 
 
 ' He is in Moscow,' I said grimly. * I will 
 tell him that you expect certain services from him 
 which he promised in case of danger/ 
 
 ' Yes, tell him that. Do not think me un- 
 grateful, my friend. I am under promise to apply 
 for help to Mazeppa in case of need ; I am none 
 the less grateful to you for your offer.' 
 
 4 Will not your father take your side in this 
 matter ? ' 
 
 c Alas ! he regards it from a different stand- 
 point. For him, the crown is the crown, the man 
 nothing. He thinks of the glory that would be 
 mine and his if I were to become Tsaritsa. He 
 glories in the prospect already, for, indeed, many 
 say that the Tsar's mind is made up, and that he 
 will marry me or none. Now you understand how 
 imminent is my need of escape. I would die a 
 hundred times rather than mate with that loath- 
 some thing.' 
 
 * Well, I will tell Mazeppa,' I said, feeling 
 strangely mortified and somewhat heavy at heart 
 beside*. Vera Kurbatof had drawn me within 
 the hall of her father's house, and we sat before 
 the stove and conversed. The old nurse sat 
 with us, muttering occasionally, and crossing 
 herself.
 
 MAZEPPA 91 
 
 The old woman followed me as I rose to 
 depart. 
 
 * Do nothing she asks you ! ' she whispered, 
 taking me aside. 'To be Tsaritsa elect, and to 
 desire to escape ! Who ever heard such things ! 
 Say nothing to Mazeppa of this. Do you know 
 what he has promised her ? I will tell you. He 
 will carry her off to the Ukraine and hide her 
 there so that none shall find her again. He is a 
 devil, this Mazeppa ; I can see it in his eyes. He 
 would bring her to no good. He is not to be 
 trusted.' 
 
 * Maybe you are right, Matushka,' I said. * I 
 will keep your warning in mind.' 
 
 I told Mazeppa, nevertheless, as in duty 
 bound, what Vera had said. 
 
 * Aha ! ' cried Mazeppa, visibly delighted. 
 ' So she remembers, and would have my assist- 
 ance ! Well, she shall have it, tell her. Let her 
 be patient for a few days while we watch how 
 matters go. She shall not be deserted, but I will 
 not go near her at present, lest I should be sus- 
 pected afterwards ! '
 
 92 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 IT was at this time I first became intimate with a 
 certain young lion cub destined before many 
 years were passed though few guessed it as yet 
 to become a very great and uncouth beast, and 
 to startle the world with very loud roarings. 
 Let me draw a picture of the said beast, whose 
 name was Peter Alexeyevitch, the younger son of 
 the Tsar Alexis. 
 
 ' You shall come and show my fellows how 
 to ride,' he had said to me, and to Preobrajensky 
 I went, little dreaming how curious and suggestive 
 a state of affairs I should find there. At Preo- 
 brajensky, but a few miles from Moscow, the 
 younger Tsar lived with his mother, the Tsaritsa 
 Nathalia, whose authority, since the Streltsi 
 insurrection, had declined to zero, having given 
 place to that of the Regent Sophia and her lover, 
 Vassili Galitsin. 
 
 In this retreat mother and son lived almost 
 undisturbed by the duties of young Peter's high 
 position, for it was the policy of Sophia to keep
 
 MAZEPPA 93 
 
 the Tsar in the background, causing him to visit 
 Moscow only on those rare occasions of ceremony 
 when the presence of the nominal heads of the 
 realm was absolutely necessary. Peter was 
 allowed to live as he would his vices to have 
 free run, his follies to remain unchecked, in the 
 hope that his subjects might thus behold him 
 develop into an unworthy prince, on whose 
 behalf it would be foolish to overturn a better if 
 less legitimate order of things. 
 
 And, indeed, there were few at this time who 
 watched the growth of this prince with any 
 particular interest, as of one destined to great 
 things. Whether he himself guessed his own 
 greatness or no I cannot tell, though it is certain 
 that it was possible to gather from an occasional 
 remark from his lips that he was at least awake, 
 and that the present position of politics and its 
 possible development in his favour had not 
 altogether escaped him. 
 
 I found him among grooms and cook boys, a 
 motley company of his chosen companions, the 
 base lump being leavened by the presence of a 
 few sons of well-known Boyars. These were 
 one and all members of the * Pleasure Regiment ' 
 which it was Peter's delight at this time to keep 
 and to train : an odd assortment indeed of young 
 moujiks, servants upon the estate, young Boyars
 
 94 MAZEPPA 
 
 and dvoryaninSy and every lad with a taste for 
 soldiering or for wild living who had happened 
 to hear of and be attracted by the half-serious, 
 all-boyish activity of the young Tsar at Preo- 
 brajensky. 
 
 I found him drinking beer among the stable 
 lads and moujiks who formed his chosen circle of 
 friends and officers, and though assuredly Peter 
 Alexeyevitch gave at that time scarcely a hint of 
 the greatness that was in him, being as yet but in 
 his sixteenth or seventeenth year, and with 
 apparently little seriousness of thought about 
 him, yet I felt marvellously attracted by the 
 youth, believing that I saw in him more than I 
 had been taught at Moscow to credit him withal, 
 where it was the fashion to cry him down as a 
 prince of little promise, given to excess of every 
 kind, but possessing no solidity of character, no 
 ambition, no sense of the responsibility of his 
 position and of its duties. He is a fool ! ' 
 Galitsin had said in my hearing, * a fool with 
 many vices ; one who, without the wisdom of 
 the Regent to restrain him, might be a danger to 
 the State.' 
 
 As to his personal appearance, this was most 
 striking. Tall beyond belief, lanky, somewhat 
 round in the shoulder, long-armed, dark-haired, 
 large-eyed, round-faced, pleasant in expression
 
 MAZEPPA 95 
 
 until the moment when some word or action of 
 his companion's or even some thought of his 
 own aroused a feeling of anger, when at once his 
 eyes became harsh and cruel like a savage beast's, 
 and his brow would knit and his mouth scowl. 
 At such a moment too, his head would turn with 
 a spasmodic jerk over his shoulder as though he 
 would look at his heel, and sometimes he would 
 grasp the nearest object with his hands whether 
 a man or a piece of furniture as if to steady 
 himself. 
 
 During these paroxysms Peter Alexeyevitch 
 was a dangerous neighbour, having little control 
 over himself. I have heard it said at the Russian 
 Court that he is not to be blamed for such attacks, 
 which were the simple result of those scenes of 
 horror and carnage to which he was condemned 
 at the age of ten by the excesses of the Streltsi, 
 when his young feet were dragged by them 
 through the blood of his uncles, his mother's 
 brothers, the Naryshkins, and when he was a 
 personal witness of the murders of Dolgorouki, 
 Matveyeff, and other victims. 
 
 For myself I have rarely seen him in a fit of 
 passion, for it happened that he was pleased to 
 take a fancy for me from our first acquaintance, 
 and was ever kind and gracious towards me. 
 
 1 Sit, Chelminsky, and drink with us,' he
 
 96 MAZEPPA 
 
 now cried, as I entered the large and dirty 
 barrack room in which the company were 
 assembled. * You are welcome ; brothers, this 
 is the prince of Cossacks, Chelminsky, who shall 
 teach us all to ride presently. Meanwhile, give 
 him the biggest tankard, and stand, all, while he 
 drinks. There is beer and mead, Chelminsky ; 
 choose your stuff and drink till you're drunk 
 it is our rule.' 
 
 1 Then I must ride before I drink,' I laughed, 
 * or I shall only teach your fellows how to fall 
 off.' 
 
 I was allowed to postpone my drinking upon 
 this plea, for which I must thank the youth of 
 the Tsar, for assuredly but a year or two later, 
 and ever afterwards, he would have listened to no 
 excuse from any whom it pleased him to bid 
 drink with him. To drink with the Tsar meant 
 certain intoxication for the guest, at least, if not 
 for the Tsar also ; but, being liberally gifted by 
 nature in this as in most other respects, Peter 
 was sometimes able to withstand when all around 
 had succumbed. Yet, so robust was he that, 
 however late he may have lingered over his wine 
 cups by night, he was invariably able and ready 
 to begin a long day's work so soon as morning 
 arrived, and to go through with it as no other 
 man in the realm could have done.
 
 MAZEPPA 97 
 
 I rode for an hour before this motley crew, 
 showing them many Cossack tricks, to the great 
 delight of the Tsar himself and of his companions 
 such as picking up a sword from the ground 
 while passing at full gallop ; vaulting into the 
 saddle as the horse flew round in a circle ; standing, 
 kneeling, lying when in full career, and so forth. 
 
 Both the Tsar himself and many of his half- 
 drunken companions must needs emulate my 
 performances, one of the fellows breaking an arm 
 and another his head, and the Tsar himself 
 twisting his ankle in a fashion that caused him to 
 walk lamely for several days afterwards. Mean- 
 while Peter expressed to me his satisfaction after 
 his own manner. He smote me violently upon 
 the shoulder : 
 
 1 By the saints, Chelminsky, a troop of horse- 
 men like yourself should make themselves felt in 
 a battle ; one day, maybe, we shall fight together. 
 Why should I not add fifty Cossacks to this regi- 
 ment of mine ? I will speak with you again of 
 the matter, when I am sober.' 
 
 But since the Tsar was far from sober at this 
 time, and for the rest of the day, I had no oppor- 
 tunity to discuss the matter. 
 
 But I met young Boutourlin in Moscow a 
 day or two later, and spoke with him. The 
 young Tsar was delighted with me, he said : 
 
 H
 
 98 MAZEPPA 
 
 * And that may prove a wonderful thing for you, 
 Chelminsky ; for, believe me, this lion cub that 
 yawns to-day and plays with bones shall hunt for 
 himself to-morrow ; and those who are his play- 
 mates now will presently become his princes and 
 ministers.' 
 
 'What! these grooms and moujiks ? ' I 
 laughed. 
 
 But Boutourlin wagged his head solemnly. 
 4 Both they and we,' he said. ' As, for instance, 
 why should you not become Hetman of the 
 Cossacks ? ' 
 
 ' Peter has first to become somebody before I 
 can become anybody,' I said ; f the Regent and 
 Galitsin have taken a good grip, and are not 
 likely to let go.' 
 
 'The deadliest grip can be loosened if you press 
 tightly enough upon the gripper's throat,' said 
 Boutourlin, laughing. ' Our man is scarcely yet 
 sixteen. Let him grow and think quietly, and big 
 things may yet come of his thinking and growing. 
 You, too, go home and think, but do not talk. 
 Remember that we shall want the Cossacks, and 
 when the Government changes in Moscow a 
 new Hetman will have to be found at Batourin. 
 Remember also that we others are wide awake, 
 even though the lion cub should yawn. All this 
 drilling is not for nothing.'
 
 MAZEPPA 99 
 
 These words caused me to reflect, as they 
 were meant to do, and I decided that, since 
 Mazeppa was already the Regent's man, I would 
 be Peter's ; for I could lose nothing and might 
 gain much by entering into an understanding 
 with the young Tsar. If he should come to the 
 front I should certainly profit ; in any case, I 
 should be no worse off. 
 
 I therefore rode daily to Preobrajensky, and 
 became each day more familiar with the young 
 lion who, as Boutourlin expressed it, lay and 
 yawned there, waiting upon time and oppor- 
 tunity. 
 
 Certainly the Tsar could not be said to hold 
 himself timidly towards the Regent, his sister, as 
 some declare that he was too much wont to do ; 
 for during the short while that I was in Moscow 
 at this time I saw him twice defy her authority, 
 taking the law into his own hands after a fashion 
 that a timid youth could not have imitated. 
 
 The first time that this happened was in con- 
 sequence of a freak which originated upon the 
 parade ground when I was myself present. 
 
 The * Pleasure Regiment ' marched past in 
 silence, and someone remarked that there should 
 be a band of drums and whistles (or fifes) to play 
 the men into good step. This would make the 
 parade more lively. 
 
 H2
 
 ioo MAZEPPA 
 
 - 
 
 'The Poutyatine regiment of Streltsi has 
 them,' laughed one of those who stood by. 
 
 * Oh, oh ! ' cried Peter, * we will raid them. 
 Come, volunteers ! who will help carry off these 
 fifes and drums ? ' 
 
 There were many offers of assistance, and 
 that evening the entire set of drums and fifes 
 used by the Poutyatine regiment of Streltsi found 
 their way in some mysterious fashion to the 
 barracks of the { Pleasure Regiment ' at Preo- 
 brajensky.
 
 MAZEPPA 101 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 THIS affair of the fifes and drums was a notable 
 one, because it led to the first revolt of young 
 Peter against the authority of his sister and her 
 minister and lover, Galitsin. 
 
 For the young Tsar was summoned to the 
 Kremlin to answer for his misdeeds and to be 
 made to promise that the drums and fifes of 
 the Streltsi fellows should be restored to their 
 original owners. 
 
 To the Regent's angry command that he should 
 explain forthwith his conduct, Peter replied some- 
 what haughtily. 
 
 * You forget, sister,' he said, * that I grow 
 with the years ; I am not forever to remain in 
 swaddle clothes a helpless thing to be fed with 
 spoon meat ! ' 
 
 * At any rate for the present thou art no more 
 than a child, and as a child thou shalt be treated,' 
 said the Grand Duchess, flushing, nevertheless, 
 and surprised ; * for the present also it is I that 
 am set above thee, and I that am to be obeyed.'
 
 102 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Thy voice, but that fellow's counsel ! ' said 
 Peter, laughing and tilting his chin at Galitsin. 
 
 Galitsin flushed angrily, and asked Peter how 
 he dared speak thus to his sister. 
 
 * And thou,' said the young Tsar, haughtily 
 enough. * Who art thou, Galitsin, to be present 
 when the Tsar takes counsel with the Regent ? 
 Go forth, sir, into the ante-room and wait until 
 thou art summoned ! ' 
 
 Galitsin looked bewildered and knew not 
 what to do : he glanced at the Regent. 
 
 * Go, Liubyezny,' she whispered. ( I will 
 bring the young fool to reason.' 
 
 Galitsin still lingered, and was about to 
 speak. 
 
 1 Do you not hear, fool ? ' cried young Peter, 
 stamping his foot and actually taking a step 
 towards Galitsin, over whom he towered by half 
 an arm's length. ( Lord, sister, I will have better 
 obedience from my servants when I am master ! ' 
 
 This which was overheard by some who 
 listened in the ante-room was said to be the first 
 roaring of the young lion who was soon to tear 
 old Russia into shreds. 
 
 What passed between brother and sister after 
 Galitsin had gone pale and trembling from the 
 room, shutting the door of the ante-room after 
 him, I cannot tell ; but it is certain that the
 
 MAZEPPA 103 
 
 drums and fifes remained at Preobrajensky, and 
 that the conduct of young Peter grew bolder 
 from this day, instead of conforming more strictly 
 to the wishes of the Regent, who would have had 
 the Tsar sink ever more helplessly under her 
 control. 
 
 For instance, Peter now set up a recruiting 
 office at his mother's palace, and here the names 
 of many distinguished Russian families were to 
 be found represented by the younger sons of the 
 Boyars, youths who discerned in the service of 
 Peter hopes of future advancement which could 
 never be expected under Sophia's rule. It was 
 these young Boyars, more than Peter himself, 
 who worked silently for the revolution in Peter's 
 favour which was to take place within two years 
 of this time. For men say the Tsar recruited 
 and drilled his men, and fortified his camp, and 
 armed and mounted his troops, all for pastime, 
 not seriously realising his strength or theirs, or his 
 by reason of them ; but they worked deliberately 
 and with the full intention to make of Peter's 
 pleasure regiment a grim and warlike reality, by 
 means of which one day the Tsar of their choice 
 should be placed in power. 
 
 And Peter, having now found perhaps to 
 his surprise, but certainly to his great delight 
 that he had gained much by asserting himself,
 
 io 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 began to take more liberty and to ignore his 
 sister the Regent when her wishes clashed with 
 his own. 
 
 Were horses required for his pleasure army ? 
 A detachment is sent to the Konynshannui Prikaz, 
 or cavalry department, in Moscow, and the 
 required number of animals is driven out to 
 Preobrajensky. 
 
 By the saints, any fool with a pair of eyes in 
 his head might have foreseen which way matters 
 tended ! 
 
 Yet Mazeppa, who was no fool, and whose 
 eyes were as good as most, made or appeared to 
 make a mistake in this matter. 
 
 Peter the Tsar had observed Mazeppa in 
 Moscow, and asked me of him. I did not praise 
 him too highly, for I was anxious to stand higher 
 with this young giant than he, Mazeppa having 
 undoubtedly an understanding with the party in 
 power, Sophia and her satellites. I had now 
 begun to play a part in life to have my own 
 ambitious ends in view, in gaining which Mazeppa 
 would be an obstruction. For our object, both 
 his and mine, was the Hetmanate, to obtain 
 which he would play Sophia and I should play 
 Peter. 
 
 Therefore, desiring to keep my place in the 
 young Tsar's regard, I did not speak too highly
 
 MAZEPPA 105 
 
 of Mazeppa, though I allowed him to be a 
 shrewd and capable person, of clerkly rather than 
 military attainments. 
 
 4 Can he not ride, then, like thee ? ' asked 
 Peter ; and I replied that all Cossacks are at 
 home on horseback, as young ducks are in water. 
 
 * Devil take it,' said the young Tsar. c Bring 
 him down here, Chelminsky, and we shall see 
 which of you two ducklings swims best ! ' 
 
 I was glad of this, for I knew that in fancy 
 riding I was a better horseman than Mazeppa. 
 Mazeppa knew this also, and was not anxious to 
 accept the Tsar's invitation. 
 
 ' Why should I take this trouble for the 
 pleasure of a young fool that herds with grooms and 
 moujiks and swills beer with his own cook boys ?' 
 he said. And I replied that this young fool, as 
 Mazeppa was pleased to call him, was neverthe- 
 less joint-Tsar of Russia, and must therefore be 
 obeyed. 
 
 * A Tsar in name, but without authority ! ' he 
 laughed. c Do you not know that Sophia is the 
 mare that draws the chariot, and will draw it to 
 the end ? ' 
 
 * That may very well be true,' said I, not 
 willing to argue the matter, lest Mazeppa should 
 become impressed with my own conviction that 
 Peter was destined one day to assert his strength.
 
 io6 MAZEPPA 
 
 For at present Mazeppa, being an adherent of 
 Sophia and accustomed to the cant of the Regent 
 and her companions as to Peter's foolishness and 
 worthlessness, was disposed to think little of this 
 lion-cub, and misdoubted his strength and valour. 
 
 1 Continue in that opinion, my friend,' 
 thought I, ( for therein may lie my advantage if 
 I have any luck ! ' 
 
 Nevertheless Mazeppa did come with me to 
 Preobrajensky, being too much of a courtier, I 
 suppose, to disobey the will of a Tsar, even 
 though he looked upon that Tsar without much 
 respect. 
 
 Peter constrained us to drink with his boon 
 companions and would take no denial, and after 
 these libations to the drunken god Bacchus he 
 must needs set us, first to race and afterwards to 
 exhibit our skill in Cossack feats and tricks of 
 horsemanship. 
 
 The race was more a matter for our horses 
 than for ourselves, and Mazeppa being the lighter 
 man, I had fears that he might win. We galloped 
 three times round the exercising ground of the 
 c Pleasure Regiment,' and at one hundred yards 
 from the winning post were still neck and neck, 
 I urging my good beast both with whip and 
 spur, Mazeppa doing the same. Within a stone's
 
 MAZEPPA 107 
 
 throw of the post his horse fell from exhaustion, 
 leaving mine to gallop in alone. 
 
 * That is a good race,' shouted the Tsar, * and 
 well ridden by both, but he wins a race who rides 
 the best horse. Let us judge which is the better 
 Cossack you, Chelminsky, or Mazeppa ; show 
 your skill, both, and you shall be judged by the 
 votes of us who look on ! ' 
 
 Mazeppa would rather not have engaged in 
 this competition, for in our own home I was 
 accounted a better horseman than he, and 
 Mazeppa was one who loved to excel and hated 
 to be worsted. 
 
 In the tricks we essayed I showed my 
 superiority, the Tsar and his companions clapping 
 their hands vigorously and shouting my name ; 
 but the culmination of my triumph came when, at 
 last, Mazeppa fell from his saddle in an attempt 
 to pick up a pistol from the ground while passing 
 at full gallop. 
 
 Mazeppa's misfortune set the Tsar shouting 
 with delight and laughing boisterously. 
 
 Mazeppa was angry, first by reason of his 
 failure, but still more on account of the bad man- 
 ners of the Tsar and his satellites. 
 
 * He rides better than you, Mazeppa ! ' cried 
 the Tsar. { Well done, Chelminsky ; it was well
 
 io8 MAZEPPA 
 
 done indeed ; it may be that thou shalt be the 
 Hetman for this one day, when I am master ! ' 
 
 I wished the Tsar had not said this. I saw 
 Mazeppa flush and start and look quickly at the 
 Tsar and at myself. 
 
 * Many things must happen before Chelminsky 
 is Hetman of the Cossacks ! ' he said, and the 
 Tsar laughed. 
 
 Presently, when a group of Peter's men stood 
 about me, I observed that Mazeppa and the Tsar 
 spoke together apart, and 1 was consumed with 
 the desire to know what was said, for 1 trusted 
 Mazeppa not at all, and I judged that he would 
 not allow so good an opportunity to go by 
 without stabbing me in the dark. 
 
 In this opinion of Mazeppa I did him no 
 injustice, for the Tsar, in speaking with me alone 
 a little later, informed me of his own accord of 
 what had passed. 
 
 4 Mazeppa is furious with you,' said his 
 Highness, laughing, { else he would scarcely give 
 you so bad a character. You are too great a 
 fool, Chelminsky, to become Hetman. So says 
 Mazeppa. For Hetman a leader of men is 
 needed, not a mere trick-rider of horses ! ' 
 
 f Better one that can ride than one who falls 
 off,' said I. The Tsar laughed, after his manner, 
 very loudly.
 
 MAZEPPA 109 
 
 ' Mazeppa will not shed tears for thy unkind- 
 ness, Tsar,' I continued, * for to say truth he pins 
 his faith upon the Regent, not thee. " She will 
 for ever sit in the highest place," says Mazeppa, 
 " though the little Tsar Peter shall wear fine 
 clothes and be called by a great title." 
 
 Peter flushed and looked angry. 'Why said 
 Mazeppa this, and why do you tell me of it ?' 
 he asked. 
 
 4 Concerning what your Highness said of 
 the Hetmanate,' I replied. f Mazeppa would be 
 Hetman, and doubtless the Regent will support 
 him has already so promised him, as I believe. 
 Thus he is not alarmed by the threat of your 
 Highness that I shall be Hetman, because, 
 says Mazeppa, it is her Highness the Regent 
 who shall appoint to the office, and not the Tsar 
 Peter.' 
 
 * Oh ! ' said the Tsar, flushing, * he said this, 
 did he ? Well, my friend, when we see, then we 
 shall know ! ' 
 
 Riding back to Moscow Mazeppa was coldly 
 disposed towards me. He spoke little, but said 
 suddenly when we neared the city, * If thou art 
 wise, Chelminsky, forget what this youth said of 
 the Hetmanate, for be sure that before Peter is 
 Tsar Mazeppa will be Hetman ; wherefore build 
 no hopes and suffer no disappointment ! '
 
 no MAZEPPA 
 
 * As to that,' said I, * I may forget and I may 
 remember ! ' 
 
 * Do as you please, my friend,' Mazeppa said, 
 laughing grimly, * but I think I shall win.' 
 
 Thinking all this over and knowing Mazeppa 
 as I did, I determined that the safest plan in 
 dealing with this fox would be to be a fox also.
 
 MAZEPPA 1 1 1 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 I MET at this time with two adventures which 
 I will now relate, since the first resulted in a 
 friendship which was afterwards and indeed very 
 soon of great use to me, and both are essential 
 to the further understanding of Ivan's bride- 
 choosing. 
 
 I was wandering near the Dievitchy monas- 
 tery, which is the convent for the ' Devoted of the 
 Female Sex,' and it occurred to me that here, 
 indeed, was a good refuge for any who, like Vera 
 Kurbatof, would escape the chance of being 
 mated with Tsar Ivan against her will. My 
 thoughts continually ran upon Vera at this time : 
 her sweet though firm character attracted me 
 much, and I began to think that I was not far 
 from being in love with her. But if I suspected 
 myself of this weakness, I suspected Mazeppa 
 yet more of the very same, and perhaps it was 
 this that, at the first, drew me towards Vera more 
 strongly than even her own charm ; for it had 
 come to this, that I now felt my principal rule of
 
 H2 MAZEPPA 
 
 life to be opposition to and rivalry with Mazeppa. 
 I must both obstruct him and oust him ; he had 
 offended me more than once, and the Cossacks 
 do not easily forget offence. Moreover, he it was 
 that stood in my way, therefore I should make 
 him feel that I stood also in his. 
 
 As to Vera, I knew as well as if he had told 
 me in words that he had determined to make the 
 girl his prey, whether honestly as his wife or in 
 some other way. Therefore, above all things, he 
 must not suspect that I, too, had an eye upon 
 Vera. I would move stealthily ; he should 
 neither see nor hear anything that would put him 
 upon his guard in this matter. Mazeppa was a 
 better fox than I ; he thought me a fool, how- 
 ever, which should give me an advantage. 
 
 Firstly, then, he should be led to believe that 
 I was indifferent to Vera, and that might put him 
 off his guard in speaking to me of the girl. We 
 were still upon friendly terms, he and I, and went 
 as dear companions ; but he had deceived and 
 offended me more than once, and I felt not 
 towards him now as I did in the old days. 
 
 A youth drove up to the monastery as I passed 
 the door : this was a young Boyar, by his dress, 
 though I did not know him. He clanged the 
 great bell, and I heard him give his name as 
 Rachmanof, and demand to see his sister. There
 
 MAZEPPA 113 
 
 was a parley at the door, and presently he was 
 admitted up some steps and into a little ante- 
 room that lay outside the great doors leading in 
 to the convent. 
 
 I lingered I know not why wondering 
 whether anything of interest would happen, and 
 almost immediately my curiosity was rewarded, 
 for there came a medley of angry female voices, a 
 piercing shriek or two, a curse and a scuffle, and 
 then appeared young Rachmanof carrying the 
 body of a young nun or postulant (for her hair, 
 I observed, was not shorn), and followed by an 
 old nun and two or three younger ones, who 
 scolded and cried, and called aloud upon all and 
 sundry for assistance. 
 
 * Help ! help ! ' cried the elder woman. ' All 
 good people prevent this sacrilege ! Here is a 
 villain would carry off one of God's devoted 
 women. Help her, all who would serve Christ ! ' 
 
 The fellow took no notice of what was said 
 or shrieked behind him, but dragged his struggling 
 burden grimly on towards his iroika, a three- 
 horsed carriage, which stood in the road. 
 
 Then I stepped forward and took up a position 
 in front of the carriage so that approach to it was 
 barred by my body. 
 
 Rachmanof cursed and bade me get out of 
 the way. 
 
 I
 
 n 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 c I will let you pass when you have assured me 
 of your right to take away this lady ! ' I said. 
 
 f She is my sister,' he cried, c and as for right, 
 who in the devil's name are you that question 
 me?' 
 
 * I am one who will at any rate have an answer 
 when 1 ask for information,' 1 said. * Put the 
 girl down and let us hear what you have to say.' 
 
 The older nun, shivering on the doorstep, 
 cried out : ' Well done, good Cossack ; be brave, 
 for you act in God's service. This fellow would 
 carry his sister to the Tsar's terem that she may 
 be inspected among those who are candidates in 
 the bride-choosing, she being one who has entered 
 the exclusive service of Christ, having withdrawn 
 from the world and its wickedness.' 
 
 * It's a lie ! ' cried Rachmanof. l She escaped 
 from home but a week since in order to avoid 
 her duty as a Russian maiden namely, to offer 
 herself for the Tsar's consideration. She is no 
 nun, her hair is unshorn ; she is but a postulant, 
 and has no rights such as this old hag claims for 
 her. Therefore you, sir, whosoever you may be, 
 move yourself out of my way, or it may be that 
 you shall go back among your Cossacks limping.' 
 
 * Put her down,' I said, * and let her go back 
 whence she came. Shame upon you to use force 
 with her ! It is an accursed thing to tear a
 
 MAZEPPA 115 
 
 maiden from the service of Christ, if she would 
 so devote herself.' 
 
 * At any rate, it is not your business, but 
 mine ; she is not your sister. This is a family 
 matter : it is my father's wish that she should 
 return to her home, and the Regent's command 
 that she should attend the bride-choosing, though 
 why I take the trouble to tell thee, Heaven knows. 
 Come, out of my way ! I grow weary of carrying 
 this fool of a girl.' 
 
 A crowd began to collect, and though some 
 cried, f Let him pass with her,' a greater number 
 shouted, * It is a sacrilege ; God's curse will 
 follow those who offend one of His devoted. 
 Take her from him, Cossack ; we will support you.' 
 
 * You hear ? ' I said ; * better put her down and 
 make off quickly, for the people are against you. 1 
 
 Rachmanof cursed and blasphemed, bidding 
 me in the devil's name move out of his way, but 
 I laughed and stood where I was. Suddenly he 
 dropped his burden, and, grabbing at his sword, 
 attacked me furiously. 
 
 The girl doubled back like a startled hare and 
 quickly disappeared, she and her companions, 
 including the old nun, shutting all the doors 
 behind them. 
 
 I was ready for Rachmanof, for I expected 
 his onslaught, but his attack was so violent and 
 
 I 2
 
 n6 MAZEPPA 
 
 at the same time so skilful that he almost bore 
 me down at the first rush. 
 
 But I steadied myself in a moment or two, 
 and for awhile our weapons clashed without 
 advantage to either side, while the crowd about 
 us shouted encouragement now to one and now 
 to the other. 
 
 I hacked Rachmanof's arm, drawing blood, 
 but it was no worse than a surface wound, though 
 the sight of it roused the spectators to excitement 
 and sent the balance of sympathy decidedly to my 
 side. 
 
 * Smite, Cossack, and spit the bully ! ' cried 
 some ; and a few replied, * For shame ! let the 
 Russian win, he is our brother the Cossacks are 
 thieving rascals, one and all.' 
 
 Then suddenly something happened that sent 
 me toppling over, and as I fell a man brought a 
 club down upon my head and I tumbled senseless 
 in the road. 
 
 I know now that the driver of Rachmanof's 
 carriage interfered in his master's interest and 
 backed the horses in such a way that the carriage 
 came rolling into me from behind, knocking my 
 legs from under me. Then a sympathiser with 
 Rachmanof suddenly ran in and smote me upon 
 the head, and so for the moment ended all 
 interest in the matter for me.
 
 MAZEPPA 117 
 
 When I regained consciousness I found 
 myself in a small room within the convent. This 
 was the tiny ante-room, built out separately from 
 the parent building, a room in which the friends 
 of the nuns might have interviews with their 
 acquaintances ; and here I speedily became aware 
 that the old nun (who, I learned, was the Superior 
 of the community) was busily fastening bandages 
 about my head, which presumably had been 
 somewhat roughly used. 
 
 * How did I get here ? ' I asked. c And who 
 has broken my head for me ? Was it Rach- 
 manof ? ' 
 
 1 You were overcome by treachery. Yet the 
 victory was yours, as for ever it has been and shall 
 be on the side of those who espouse the cause of 
 right and fight as the champions of Christ ; for see, 
 Rachmanof is wounded and has driven away 
 worsted, and his sister is here and safe, thanks to 
 your intervention. Be sure the good nuns shall 
 pray for you, Cossack, for this service, and I also. 
 The prayers of the righteous travel far. You 
 shall prosper in the world and shall have your 
 desires.' 
 
 1 You would not promise so glibly if you 
 knew what they are, Mother,* I laughed. * I am 
 very ambitious.' 
 
 * So long as your ambitions do not transgress
 
 n8 MAZEPPA 
 
 the law of Christ who is our Master, I shall pray 
 that they may be fulfilled to your comfort.' 
 
 ' Oh, I mean no ill to any living soul,' I said. 
 1 1 would climb, certainly, but that need not be 
 over the backs of others ! Pray for me, Mother, 
 that the deceitful may not triumph over me.' I 
 thought of Mazeppa as I made this request, and 
 when the Superior replied that both she and her 
 nuns would pray heartily that I might prevail in 
 a just cause, against devils, principalities, powers, 
 and I know not what, I felt that I had scored 
 many points against my fox-friend, Mazeppa. 
 
 * Moreover,' said the good woman, * if there 
 be any young maiden in whom you are interested 
 whom you would rather see in this sanctuary 
 than exposed to the degradation of the Tsar's 
 bride-choosing in the terem, let her come here, 
 in God's name, and we will take her in and 
 cherish her for the sake of your service this 
 day.' 
 
 I laughed and thanked the good soul 
 * Though I am a stranger and therefore not 
 likely to desire sanctuary for any maiden consigned 
 to the terem ' yet when I left the convent, 
 presently, to return to my lodging, it occurred to 
 me that the offer of the Superior might, after all, 
 prove useful in case matters should become 
 urgently dangerous for Vera Kurbatof.
 
 MAZEPPA 119 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 AND now for my second adventure. 
 
 On my way back from Preobrajensky one 
 evening I met a man and a woman on horseback, 
 both scolding one another at full voice so loudly, 
 indeed, that I could not fail to hear every word 
 said as we met and passed. 
 
 It appeared that the man, who was the older, 
 refused to permit the woman, who seemed scarcely 
 more than a young girl, to take some course which 
 she was resolved to pursue. When I had dis- 
 covered this much their voices became inaudible, 
 and I should have forgotten all about the matter 
 but that I happened to find a lady in trouble in the 
 forest next day, and in conversation with her 
 recognised her voice as that of the scolding maiden 
 of yesterday. 
 
 She was standing, when I first came upon her, 
 in riding dress, and disconsolately gazed through 
 the trees as though looking for someone she had 
 lost, or whom she expected to arrive. 
 
 She started round when I rode softly up, and 
 I now saw that I had to do with a most beautiful
 
 120 MAZEPPA 
 
 woman, one of the most beautiful I had ever 
 seen. She asked me somewhat angrily whether I 
 had seen her horse. 
 
 'The fool shied at a hare that ran across his 
 path,' she said, 'and as I was thinking of other 
 things I was surprised and thrown for which he 
 shall feel my whip when I find him ! ' 
 
 ' A hare to cross your path is bad fortune,' 
 I laughed. ' It is to be hoped you are not engaged 
 upon any enterprise in the success of which you 
 are greatly concerned, for, if so, it is likely to 
 fail ! ' 
 
 ( Maybe I am,' she replied, ' but it shall not 
 fail that is, if the issue depends upon myself.' 
 
 ' But maybe it depends upon the will of 
 someone a father or an uncle,' I hazarded, 
 remembering the sobbing of the previous even- 
 ing. 
 
 She started. 
 
 ' Are you a wizard or a guesser ? ' she said. 
 
 f Certainly not the first ; as to the last, I guess 
 that you are she whom I overheard last night 
 quarrelling with a man who might well be your 
 father, since he appeared to be endeavouring to 
 exercise authority, which you with the licence of 
 a daughter who is also a beautiful girl resisted.' 
 
 'Well, you have made a close guess. My 
 father and I if it was really ourselves you over-
 
 MAZEPPA 121 
 
 heard had disagreed. You remember voices 
 well.' 
 
 * Such a voice as yours, once heard, is no more 
 to be forgotten than is your face, once seen.' 
 
 ' Oh, by the saints, if you are of the flattering 
 order of cavaliers, we shall not long be friends. 
 Come, have you seen my horse ? ' 
 
 * No, I have not,' I laughed ; * but there is 
 mine to be had for the asking.' 
 
 * You would not be best pleased if I accepted 
 the offer though I thank you for making it. I 
 was riding away I know not whither, perhaps a 
 very long journey when my horse threw me : if 
 I took your horse you might not see him again ! ' 
 
 * That would be an irreparable loss only if he 
 carried you away with him beyond return.' 
 
 * Well, I mean to return, and that is why I am 
 escaping.' 
 
 * A riddle ! ' I exclaimed, laughing. * Why 
 are you escaping, if I may use the word you 
 who have only just arrived ? ' 
 
 c How know you that ? ' she asked sharply. 
 
 4 That requires little guessing ! If you had 
 been long in Moscow I should have seen you. 
 I can guess a little more if I be allowed.' 
 
 * Guess on, then ! ' 
 
 * You have come for the bride-choosing of the 
 Tsar Ivan, but you have seen him and taken
 
 122 MAZEPPA 
 
 fright ; and in spite of your father's commands or 
 desires, you are attempting to escape from the 
 fate you fear. And, indeed, if you do not wish 
 to be Tsaritsa, either for this or another reason, 
 you are wise to escape, for by all the saints I 
 think there is only one among the maidens to 
 equal you, and assuredly none to vanquish you if 
 the prize go by looks ! ' 
 She laughed merrily. 
 
 * Bravo ! ' she said. * You are wrong from 
 beginning to end. In the first place, it is my 
 father who has seen the Tsar and who has taken 
 fright ; in the second, I would give half my life 
 to become Tsaritsa, even Ivan's ; lastly, I am 
 escaping from my father, not from the terem, 
 to which I long to obtain admission, though he 
 has sworn I shall not.' 
 
 This was a surprising state of things, and 
 quite the opposite of that which was usual as 
 between daughters and fathers the fathers being, 
 so far as I had seen, for ever ambitious, while 
 the maidens often preferred love to ambition 
 love, that is, for some lover who was not the 
 Tsar ; or perhaps even presumed to allow a sense 
 of personal antipathy to stand between themselves 
 and their chance of high advancement. 
 
 * If that is so,' I said, ' the matter should be 
 easily arranged. Your father dare not withstand
 
 MAZEPPA 123 
 
 the ukase of the Regent. She need but be told 
 that you are here, and that your appearance is 
 worthy of the Tsar's regard, and you shall soon 
 find yourself among those assembled for his 
 inspection. Go home, if you are wise, and you 
 shall be sent for.' 
 
 4 But my father threatens to leave Moscow 
 with me this very day ; that is why I attempted to 
 escape. I dare not go home to him, for in an 
 hour I should be on my way back to our own 
 place, which 1 loathe. It has taken us two 
 months to journey from there to here, and I do 
 not care if I never see it again.' 
 
 * Where, then, is this unloved home ? ' I 
 asked. 
 
 * My father is Soltikof, Governor of Siberia. 
 He is a good father, and loves me. He saw this 
 Tsar Ivan for the first time yesterday. The youth 
 became angry with someone and frothed at the 
 mouth, afterwards bursting into tears ; lastly, he 
 fell in a fit ! Lord knows what ailed him. 
 " No daughter of mine," said my father in telling 
 me afterwards of what he had seen at the palace 
 of the Regent, " should marry such a creature 
 as this, not if he were Tsar of all Christendom. 
 Tfu ! " he said, " the thing is a frog, not a man ; fie 
 upon her who should marry such a creature ! " 
 
 * And you, you think differently ? ' I asked.
 
 124 MAZEPPA 
 
 * You would marry this frog-man for the sake of 
 his Tsarship ? * 
 
 * Bah ! it is the name Tsaritsa one marries, 
 and the clothes, and the beautiful jewels, and the 
 poweK. What matter whether this man or that 
 calls himself your husband ? ' 
 
 { Have you, then, seen him, that you speak so 
 boldly ? ' 
 
 { Not I ! He cannot be more loathsome than 
 my father has represented him : whatever he may 
 be I shall surely be agreeably surprised, for verily 
 my good parent, in his anxiety on my account, 
 has drawn the sorriest picture of a prince that 
 fancy could devise. Is he indeed so bad ? Can 
 he speak can he be understood can he stand 
 upon his own feet can he wear a Tsar's clothes 
 and sit upon a Tsar's chair ? ' 
 
 * Oh, he can do that much,' I laughed. < He 
 is an invalid, and has fits, but his brother Peter 
 likes him well enough, and they talk and laugh 
 together. To speak truthfully, I fear he would 
 make a sorry husband, though his wife would 
 have as much right to call herself Tsaritsa as the 
 wife of the handsomest prince that ever drew 
 breath.' 
 
 'Well, that is all that matters. Come, what 
 meant you that my admission to the terem could 
 be arranged ? Did you mean anything ? Who
 
 MAZEPPA 125 
 
 are you ? A Cossack, I see ; that much is in your 
 favour.' 
 
 'Why?' I laughed. 
 
 ' They are independent and the slaves of no 
 man : I suppose that is what I like in the Cos- 
 sacks. If I were a man I would rather be Cossack 
 than Russian. But come, what about the terem 
 who are you that you say you can get admis- 
 sion for me ? ' 
 
 'Your face would open every door ' I 
 
 began, but she stamped her foot. { Bah ! ' she 
 cried. ' Enough fooling. I suppose, then, you 
 meant nothing ; it is a pity you spoke as you 
 did.' 
 
 ' I was going to say,' I continued, looking at 
 her with approval for, indeed, she appeared very 
 beautiful in her indignation and impatience ' that 
 though you would be admitted even if you pre- 
 sented yourself with no introduction save your own 
 good looks, I think I can have you sent to the 
 terem under the best of introductions if you 
 please to approve the suggestion : namely, that of 
 the Tsar's brother and joint-Tsar, Peter, who is 
 amiable enough to be my very good friend ! ' 
 
 ' You jest ! ' she cried, flushing ; but I dis- 
 claimed all idea of jesting. 
 
 ' You shall come with me to Preobrajensky 
 now at once, if you will,' I said ; ' I ride from
 
 126 MAZEPPA 
 
 thence at this moment. The young Tsar will 
 send you forthwith to his brother's palace.' 
 
 So I seated the girl Praskovia Soltikof 
 upon my own horse and walked by her side back 
 to Preobrajensky ; and as I gazed in her face and 
 listened to her animated talk, ' By the Saints,' I 
 thought, < you would make the best Tsaritsa of all 
 the girls I have yet seen, for you have spirit 
 enough both for yourself and also for the frog 
 who would call himself your husband, and beauty 
 that should make even his cold blood run warmer 
 in his veins ! ' 
 
 She prattled all the way, telling me how dull 
 was life in her Siberian fortress, and how she 
 longed for change and for movement. She told 
 me she had never had a lover, at which assertion 
 I raised my eyebrows. 
 
 * You will have plenty, my friend,' thought I, 
 though I did not say it, { whether you marry Tsar 
 Ivan or no ; for the man who could be near thee 
 and not feel his pulses beat the quicker for it 
 would be no man, but a thing of wood or of 
 stone ! ' 
 
 Even young Peter, when he saw her, for all 
 that he numbered but sixteen years, flushed up and 
 laughed boisterously, crying that Ivashka would 
 be a fool, indeed, if he saw not here something 
 that would change his mind in the matter of his
 
 MAZEPPA 127 
 
 marriage. * By the saints,' he said, * wench, thou 
 shalt bid them send up more of thy stock when it 
 comes to my turn. How old art thou ? ' 
 
 * Seventeen,' replied Praskovia, and Peter 
 shook his head. f Thou'lt be a hag before I am 
 in middle life,' he said. * Well, let Ivan see thee ; 
 I will write him a letter he will not look at thee 
 else. Lord ! I should be a kind brother to thee, 
 he ended with a second boisterous laugh, * if 
 Ivashka took thee ! '
 
 128 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 PRASKOVIA SOLTIKOF passed that night in the 
 Tsaritsa's house at Preobrajensky, for young 
 Tsar Peter would write his promised letter to 
 Ivan, and that could not be done quickly, since 
 at this time though in after years he became a 
 notable letter-writer the writing of letters was 
 a slow and laborious matter for him. In the 
 morning I rode with her to Moscow, Peter 
 having bidden her God-speed at departing, 
 addressing her as { sister,' to Praskovia's delight, 
 and bidding her in case Ivan should be fool 
 enough to pass her by return among the 
 maidens who in two years' time would assemble 
 for his own bride-choosing. 
 
 c I owe thee much for this, Chelminsky,' she 
 said as we rode, ( and if I should become Tsaritsa 
 I will not forget thy service to me.' 
 
 c Do not forget it in any case,' I laughed, 
 c such as it is ; moreover, maybe I shall be privi- 
 leged to add to it before many days are past ! ' 
 
 * As how ? ' she asked, surprised.
 
 MAZEPPA 129 
 
 * You have not yet seen Ivan,' I replied. 
 * Perhaps when you have seen him you will take 
 fright, like your father, or feel such an aversion 
 towards him as no sentiment of ambition can 
 withstand : then you may wish to escape the fate 
 you now fancy so desirable, and in that case I 
 shall be at hand to assist you, if possible, out 
 of the quandary into which you have thrust 
 yourself.' 
 
 * I tell you he may be as ugly as the fiend, as 
 repulsive as a leper, what care I ? It is the sceptre 
 I marry, not the man. They say he marries 
 only because the Regent will have it so, and is 
 incapable of preferring one woman over another. 
 Others will choose for him and will choose the 
 fairest, in the hope that he will afterwards develop 
 so much manhood as to be moved by her attract 
 tions ; but once I have him safely I shall take 
 care that my attractiveness ends.' 
 
 * Well,' I said, ' I tell you honestly that I am 
 sorry for you, and that I tremble to think what 
 may be your fate if he should, by chance, take a 
 fancy for you. Imagine such a creature pressing 
 amorous attentions upon you bah ! could you 
 withstand such a thing ? ' 
 
 * I am content to leave such questions. Do 
 not attempt to frighten me : I desire to be called 
 Tsaritsa ; it is a prize for which I am prepared
 
 130 MAZEPPA 
 
 to pay a price ; yes, and I will pay it, though 
 be sure I shall be a haggler in the matter of 
 payment ! ' 
 
 There was no difficulty in obtaining an 
 entrance to the terem. I stated her name and 
 the object of her coming, and the door opened 
 at once. She gave me a smile as we parted, sweet 
 enough to carry any man's affections by storm, and 
 I left the palace with a heavy heart, feeling as 
 though I had caught a beautiful lamb and 
 brought it for sacrifice. 
 
 Indeed, I found myself heartily praying that 
 this poor child might even yet escape the fate 
 she courted. Maybe, after all, she would not 
 be chosen. There were many others who were 
 beautiful : two or three, certainly, might run her 
 a close race. Olga Panief, in her own style, was 
 as fair as the Soltikof maiden, and my heart beat 
 with a savage hope that she might be preferred 
 for the hideous destiny of becoming Tsaritsa to 
 such a Tsar. She had jilted me in the expecta- 
 tion of doing better for herself at Court let the 
 Tsar have her and spare this other ! Lord ! how 
 I should laugh to see Olga mated with such a 
 creature she who had presumed to throw over 
 Chelminsky ! It gave me pleasure to picture 
 to myself the awakening of Olga if she were 
 chosen awaking to the knowledge that she had
 
 MAZEPPA 131 
 
 allied herself to this repulsive thing and that the 
 marriage was a reality ! 
 
 For Olga to be so caught would be the 
 merriest of jests ; but for this innocent, this 
 child Praskovia, or worse still for Vera Kur- 
 batof, who deserved such a fate least of all, since 
 she did not, like the others, desire it ! for her 
 to be thus offered a living sacrifice ! that would 
 indeed be a matter to make the gods weep ! 
 
 As for Vera, she was at this time in great 
 danger, as I have shown ; for it seemed to me 
 and to many others well informed that the 
 Regent Sophia had set her heart on the poor girl 
 as the Tsaritsa-to-be dear saints ! she to be the 
 life-companion of such a Tsar ! 
 
 But though this were so, and I am still 
 assured that it was, the Regent was none the less 
 determined that his Highness should have every 
 opportunity to choose for himself a better or 
 fairer consort than Vera Kurbatof, if such could 
 be found ; and for this reason she was most strict 
 and most severe in her dealings with the maidens 
 brought to the terem for inspection and selec- 
 tion that none should escape before inspection, 
 or should employ arts by which they might 
 render themselves less attractive in appearance 
 than nature had made them. For there were 
 some who did not hesitate to disfigure themselves 
 
 K 2
 
 132 MAZEPPA 
 
 by staining their teeth, scratching their faces, or 
 affecting a limp, in order to escape the being 
 chosen. These back-holders were the minority, 
 of course, and very few at that ; for the greater 
 number were content to throw everything else to 
 the winds if only they might reach the highest 
 place and be called Tsaritsa. Doubtless those 
 few who were unwilling to be chosen were they 
 whom Love had so securely entangled in his net 
 that the poor fluttering things had lost their 
 heads and were unable to see salvation except in 
 struggling for freedom. 
 
 Thus some preferred, as I say, to disfigure 
 themselves, and a few tried to escape ; and 
 among these latter was a fair maiden, Doonya 
 Meschersky, who was so terribly in love with 
 her lover, Kostromsky, that they could not wait 
 upon events, but must needs take destiny into 
 their own hands and attempt in clumsy fashion to 
 shape their own ends. 
 
 This Kostromsky was a desperate and deter- 
 mined swain. Doonya, like other unwilling 
 candidates, had been forced by her father to 
 enter into competition with her peers ; but 
 Kostromsky swore by all the saints that he would 
 see to it the Tsar should not reap where he 
 had tilled, and the two devised a plan of escape 
 which they endeavoured to carry out when
 
 MAZEPPA 133 
 
 Doonya had been but two days a prisoner in the 
 terem. 
 
 Doonya fell ill, or seemed to, having first 
 bribed the old nyanka, or nurse, who was in charge 
 of her dormitory to declare that she had taken an 
 infectious malady, and was therefore a danger to 
 all the rest. The old nurse ran crying through 
 the terem that Doonya Meschersky had taken 
 the fever and must be removed at once, and 
 away ran a messenger for her own doctor, 
 who was to be found, said Doonya, at a certain 
 address. 
 
 This leech was of course Kostromsky, who 
 was impatiently awaiting the summons, and 
 accompanied the messenger back to the palace in 
 hot haste. 
 
 * The nyanka is right,' he said, upon seeing 
 Doonya, who made a show of raving and tossing 
 upon her bed ; { this is the first stage of the blood 
 fever the Barishnya must be removed imme- 
 diately.' 
 
 Whereupon Doonya was wrapped in coverings 
 and carried by the doctor himself out of the 
 dormitory and down the stairs which led to the 
 street. But unfortunately the Regent and Galitsin 
 met the party upon the stairs, and her Highness 
 would know what ailed the girl and who was this 
 that carried her away.
 
 134 MAZEPPA 
 
 The nyanka replied that a calamity had 
 happened : here was a poor Barishnya taken with 
 fever of a dangerous and infectious kind and must 
 be moved, said this good doctor, before others 
 were tainted with it. 
 
 ' And who is this good doctor, and why was 
 not the Court physician summoned ? ' asked 
 Sophia. 
 
 * She would see no leech but her own ! ' said 
 the nyanka) weeping and crossing herself. c Poor 
 lamb, that might have been chosen Tsaritsa but 
 for this sad infection ' 
 
 * Pooh ! ' said Sophia, interrupting. * Lay her 
 down here on the landing, and go, someone, for 
 Drury, the Court physician.' 
 
 When this Englishman came he soon pro- 
 nounced Doonya well enough, looking hard at 
 Kostromsky the while, whereupon Galitsin, sus- 
 pecting the family doctor, pulled the wig from his 
 head and revealed Kostromsky, whom both he 
 and the Regent knew well. 
 
 The issue of the matter was unfortunate for 
 both the conspirators, for her Highness treated 
 them with severity, in order to deter other fools, 
 as she said, from behaving in a similar fashion. 
 Poor Doonya was taken straight to the flog-room, 
 where she tasted of the knout and was then thrust 
 back into the terem^ to be laughed at or pitied
 
 MAZEPPA 135 
 
 by her companions, according to their disposi- 
 tions. 
 
 But as for Kostromsky whom, as it happened, 
 Galitsin hated because he was a Petrofsky y or fol- 
 lower of young Tsar Peter a strange fate was 
 reserved for him. 
 
 * Why have you done this thing, fool ? ' 
 Galitsin asked the poor youth, when Doonya 
 was led weeping away to her punishment. 
 
 * She is my nevfysta (fiancee),' said Kostromsky 
 boldly ; * do not dare to have her flogged, Galitsin, 
 or I swear that one day I will have revenge.' 
 
 * What ! ' exclaimed the Regent Sophia, ' you 
 would marry is that it ? ' 
 
 * I both would marry and will, Highness,' said 
 Kostromsky. 
 
 * He speaks truth,' laughed Sophia. * Here, 
 one of you, go fetch a priest, he shall be married 
 at once : take the nyanka, some of you, and 
 dress her for bride. Lord, if the fool is anxious 
 to be married, he shall have his way ! ' 
 
 In vain did poor Kostromsky entreat, threaten, 
 blaspheme the Regent had no reply but laughter ; 
 and sure enough, before the hour was out, this 
 youth and a handsome youth, too and this hag 
 of seventy were man and wife so far, at least, as 
 the ministrations of a priest of the Orthodox 
 Church could make them so.
 
 136 MAZEPPA 
 
 Thus did her Highness endeavour to terrify 
 those of the selected maidens who would prefer to 
 work out their own destinies rather than accord 
 to the Tsar the traditional privileges of Russian 
 Tsarship.
 
 MAZEPPA 137 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 MUCH of that which now must be described was 
 not, of course, witnessed by me in person, but 
 from one source or another has been gradually 
 communicated to me. Nevertheless, of the 
 accuracy of the version I now place upon record 
 I am completely satisfied. 
 
 There had been much scheming in various 
 directions, so soon as it became an accepted matter 
 that the Tsar Ivan was to be married, whether he 
 would or no, for the dynasty's sake. In the first 
 place, it must be communicated to the bridegroom 
 himself that he should be led, presently, to the 
 altar, together with his bride, whomsoever he might 
 choose. 
 
 But Ivan waxed very wroth at the communi- 
 cation, stamping his foot and flushing, showing 
 more spirit than was usual with him. 
 
 4 1 have told you that I do not wish to reign,' 
 he cried. ' My brother Peter likes to be first 
 and to speak loudly ; therefore, I have told him
 
 138 MAZEPPA 
 
 and I have told you also that he shall reign, not 
 I. What is the succession to me ? Let Peter 
 marry when he is old enough, and leave me alone 
 you, sister, and you, Galitsin, and you, Milo- 
 slavsky. I have done you no harm.' 
 
 * But see, dear Ivan,' said the Regent Sophia, 
 * you have come to man's estate, and men should 
 marry. It is the intention and the will of the 
 Almighty that they should do so ; go not con- 
 trary to the laws of God. Your life is dull and 
 lonely ; why should you not choose for yourself 
 a companion, as other men do, to comfort your 
 days ? You shall settle down presently in your 
 own palace, and if it be the pleasure of the 
 Almighty you shall be a happy husband and the 
 happy father of children.' 
 
 * As for whether you shall reign, or Peter 
 Alexeyevitch, or both together, that is another 
 matter, and nothing to do with this,' said cunning 
 Galitsin, who had no intention, however, to allow 
 anyone to govern the realm except his beloved 
 mistress, the Grand Duchess Regent, whether 
 Peter should sit upon the throne, or Ivan, or both 
 together. 
 
 And Miloslavsky, Ivan's uncle, added that if 
 the Tsar would but inspect the assemblage of 
 beautiful maidens already prepared for his regard 
 he would not long stand out against the wishes of
 
 MAZEPPA 139 
 
 the Regent, his sister, who knew well what was 
 best for his true interests. 
 
 But all their efforts failed to induce Ivan 
 to look with favour upon the idea of matri- 
 mony. 
 
 And for a week the great company of young 
 maidens waited in the terem of the palace, 
 yawning and story-telling, and longing for an end 
 one way or another to this state of tension, and 
 to the long dull period of do-nothing. 
 
 It was whispered by some, gossiping with 
 one another, as maidens would naturally do, that 
 Ivan had refused to be married, and this report 
 gave rise to some merriment and also to much 
 bitter disappointing of ambitious hopes. 
 
 Thus it was a surprise to all when one morn- 
 ing four persons entered the terem> of whom 
 three were men and one a woman. The men 
 were Galitsin, Mazeppa prime favourite at this 
 time, both of the Regent and her admirer and 
 Ivan himself, the lady being, of course, the 
 Grand Duchess Sophia. 
 
 The maidens were engaged upon their dreary 
 daily business of gossiping, sewing, fortune- 
 telling with cards, and so forth, and this incursion 
 into their sanctuary caused much agitation, much 
 reddening of pale cheeks and the piling of some 
 rosy ones ; much smoothing of skirts and of
 
 1 40 MAZEPPA 
 
 unruly locks that had escaped the restraint of 
 band or of ribbon. 
 
 It was obvious that Ivan came unwillingly, if 
 not unwittingly, into the midst of the maidens' 
 sanctuary. He started as he entered, and blushed, 
 half turning as though to retreat. 
 
 * No, no, Vanushka ; be a man and a Russian 
 Tsar ! ' said Sophia, pushing him forward ; and 
 Ivan, with an angry look and a passionate word 
 thrown back at his sister, obeyed and went 
 forward. 
 
 But though certain of the maidens sighed as 
 he passed, and some made audible whisper to one 
 another, praising his beauty and what not his 
 beauty ! and he assuredly the most niggardly 
 endowed of rriortal men in all that should make a 
 man attractive to the opposite sex ! and though 
 one picked up his handkerchief which he dropped 
 as he went by, restoring it to the Tsar with a 
 smile and a blush that suited her marvellously, he 
 never glanced either at this maiden or at her 
 fellows, but walked stolidly through the long 
 chambers in which they stood and curtsied, his 
 eyes fixed upon the ground and wandering 
 neither to right nor left, even for a single 
 instant. 
 
 Mazeppa's eyes on this occasion were very 
 busy, though Ivan's were not. I have it from
 
 MAZEPPA 141 
 
 him, who was ever a good authority when the 
 fairness of the ladies was the theme, that there 
 were present that day some very exquisite types 
 of Russian beauty. Of our own Cossack maidens 
 one at least shone radiantly even in the midst of 
 this constellation of charming maidenhood, and 
 that was the fair and haughty creature who had 
 preferred the distant chance of a very high seat, 
 by the side of witless Tsar Ivan, to the certainty 
 of a moderately honourable position as my own 
 bride. Mazeppa laughed when he told me of 
 this. 
 
 1 By the glory of love,' he said, * Chelminsky, 
 I believe she did wisely enough after all to take 
 the chances ! for if ever this fool of a prince 
 opens his eyes and looks out among these young 
 women, our fair Olga is as likely as any to 
 attract him/ 
 
 { And that is no chance ! ' I replied ; * for it is 
 well known that he will not look out among 
 them ; and I think you know this as well as 
 the rest.' 
 
 * Why so ? And what do you mean ? ' said 
 Mazeppa. 
 
 * I mean Vera Kurbatof ! ' I laughed. * You 
 might have left my Olga at Batourin for all the 
 chance she has here. As it is, you have lost her a 
 moderate lover in me, and found her no better ! '
 
 1 42 MAZEPPA 
 
 ' Fear not for her, my friend,' he laughed ; 
 
 * there are as good birds in the nest at Batourin as 
 have flown out of it. Olga will not lack for 
 lovers, even though Chelminsky should sulk ! 
 But I am not yet assured that Tsar Ivan will not 
 after all look beyond Vera for a bride. They 
 say he has forgotten her. Let not Vera be too 
 sure of her advancement.' 
 
 * Her advancement ! ' I exclaimed. * Have 
 you then forgotten that you yourself are pledged 
 to protect her rather than allow that very advance- 
 ment to take place ? ' 
 
 * I have not forgotten, of course,' he said ; 
 
 * but it would be a better and a safer way if he 
 should reject Vera by his own free will and prefer 
 another. Heaven knows there are some here 
 that might tempt the very saints themselves. 
 There is Olga Panief, for one ; then there is a 
 mysterious beauty whom none seem to know 
 Kozlof they call her, from Novgorod ; lastly, one 
 whom to see is to love Praskovia Soltikof, 
 whose father is the Governor of Siberia, which is 
 as far away as heaven. Do not let yourself 
 behold her, my friend, for to see her is to lose 
 your heart.' 
 
 'Then, what of your own, since you have 
 gazed upon her already ? ' I laughed. 
 
 * My heart is proof,' he replied, laughing also,
 
 MAZEPPA 143 
 
 though not quite at his ease. * I have already 
 found food for my love to feast upon. Do not 
 question me now ; the time comes when you 
 shall know all, and maybe you shall help me in 
 a certain matter.' 
 
 This reply of Mazeppa's caused me to reflect, 
 and I now began to realise that my friend intended 
 to play a deeper game than I had guessed. 
 
 But I must return to the matter of the Tsar 
 Ivan and his bride-choosing, which indeed was 
 somewhat pressing, for it was impossible to retain 
 so large an assemblage of maidens to wait upon 
 Ivan's conversion. For who could tell how long 
 this backward lover's masculine spirit would 
 require ere it would take root and develop and 
 mature even so much spirit as would suffice to lift 
 his bashful eyes and see for himself the wonderful 
 sight presented for his delectation, and then to 
 say, ' This one is best, or that, or another.' 
 
 Therefore, to the delight of many agitated, 
 sanguine maiden hearts, it was decided that the 
 first choosing or weeding out of the maidens 
 should be done by others and not by Ivan him- 
 self, in the hope that, if no more than a score, or 
 perhaps even a smaller number, were left to 
 choose from, he might show himself less averse 
 to inspect them ; or at any rate he might be 
 induced to look upon them one at a time.
 
 i 4 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 Therefore six men were named to assist the 
 Regent in this first process of weeding out, and 
 again Mazeppa was of the number, the other five 
 being Galitsin, Miloslavsky, Shaklovity, and two 
 whose names are unimportant. 
 
 Then began much finessing by Mazeppa and 
 certain others who had their own games to play, 
 and of these games we will first watch that of 
 Mazeppa. 
 
 Vera, be it remembered, Vera the beauti- 
 ful, having already been seen by Ivan, and, as 
 many believed, approved by him, had been 
 exempted from living with the rest of the maidens 
 within the terem of the palace. 
 
 Now, when Mazeppa was chosen as one of 
 the judges who should make the first sweeping, 
 he came in excitement to me. 
 
 ' Go, Chelminsky,' he said, * and bid Vera 
 come quickly to the palace. Tell her that 1 ask 
 this of her by design and for her advantage.' 
 
 4 For her advantage ? ' I exclaimed. c Explain 
 first how this should be, for surely Ivan will see 
 her and will immediately show his preference for 
 her, if only by fixing two pig-eyes upon her face, 
 as heretofore.' 
 
 * No,' said Mazeppa ; c let her come. I am 
 chosen as one of those who are to weed out the 
 unsuitable, that they may be despatched to their
 
 MAZEPPA 145 
 
 homes. Do you understand ? I shall see that she 
 is struck from the list this very day : thus she 
 shall receive a passport and may disappear. That 
 shall be the first move. I will see her at the 
 palace and instruct her further.' 
 
 This seemed a good plan, so far, and I went 
 to tell Vera of it.
 
 146 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 I TOOK Mazeppa's message to Vera Kurbatof, but 
 Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the 
 suggestion of my friend. 
 
 * It is foolish,' she said, c and dangerous. 
 What if the Tsar should see me and say some- 
 thing, or even look something ? all would then be 
 lost. Remember, I would die rather than be 
 chosen by him. Moreover, does Mazeppa think 
 that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily ? Tell 
 him that I was sent for to the palace and that the 
 Tsar kissed my hand. That was my death warrant 
 unless I escape. I tell you, as I myself was told 
 by her Highness, that I am kept in reserve as a 
 kind of trump card : these other maidens are a 
 mere concession to the Tsarish custom and to the 
 feared expostulations of the Boyars, who are 
 accustomed to enjoy the chance of providing each 
 Tsar with a bride. The Tsar will not look 
 seriously at them. It is mere foolishness to bring 
 me into the lion's den. How shall I come forth 
 again, think you ? '
 
 MAZEPPA 147 
 
 * Mazeppa, I suppose, has some scheme for 
 your salvation. It is he that suggests it : he would 
 scarcely place you in the lion's den he of all 
 others unless he knew of a way to get you out 
 again, and once for all ! ' 
 
 c Why he of all others ? ' asked Vera. 
 
 4 You seem to have left your fate in his 
 hands : he will help you to escape, but be sure 
 that he intends to profit by your devotion to 
 him!' 
 
 * My devotion to him ? You use a foolish 
 term, sir. There is no speculation iriT Mazeppa's 
 generosity. He has offered to help me from 
 motives of pure sympathy. He would not sde 
 me made a living sacrifice.' 
 
 * Why think you so well of Mazeppa ? ' I 
 asked. 
 
 * He has understood my position and has 
 offered to save me from that which would be 
 worse than death to me. There has been no talk 
 of reward. He wishes for none and asks none. 
 As for devotion, that as 1 say was a foolish 
 expression. There is no such thing on either 
 side.' 
 
 ' So be it,' I said ; * only be sure that 
 Mazeppa is not one to labour for nothing.' 
 
 Vera was silent for a little while. At last she 
 spoke. 
 
 L2
 
 148 MAZEPPA 
 
 4 1 see that you imply more than you say. 
 Do you then know so much of Mazeppa that you 
 mistrust his motives in offering to assist me ? ' 
 
 * I know that Mazeppa admires a good- 
 looking woman,' I laughed, ' and that you are 
 one ; also that he admires you even more than 
 other fair women ; and lastly, that what Mazeppa 
 admires he covets, and what he covets he generally 
 obtains, by fair means or foul.' 
 
 * You should need to know a man well indeed 
 before you would speak thus of him,' Vera 
 murmured. * Why do you suggest this of 
 Mazeppa ? ' 
 
 ' To say truth, because I do not wish you to 
 put yourself in his hands. He is dangerous.' 
 
 < But if I do not so, what else am I to do ? to 
 whom shall I go for help ? You are kind and 
 appear to take an interest in me, but have 
 you any alternative plan if I refuse this of 
 Mazeppa ? ' 
 
 4 1 should be cruel indeed if I disadvised one 
 plan and had no alternative to suggest,' I said. 
 * As for " interest in you," perhaps I, too, know 
 a beautiful woman when I see her ! ' 
 
 ' And, like him again, are not one to labour 
 without reward, you would say ? Go away then, 
 sir ; I have no rewards such as you suggest, 
 either for yourself or for Mazeppa. I will find
 
 MAZEPPA 149 
 
 some way out of this danger without your help 
 or his. Fie, sir ! are you not ashamed to speak 
 so?' 
 
 * You go too fast ! ' 1 said, laughing. * It was 
 your own suggestion, not mine, that I expect a 
 reward for serving. I expect none. I only said 
 that I am interested in you because you are 
 beautiful : is that so great a sin ? ' 
 
 ' It is enough to indicate that having served 
 me you will afterwards ask a reward. All men 
 are alike.' 
 
 * Well, see now, Vera Stepanovna,' I said, 
 'you do me injustice, for I had been married 
 ere this, but that my bride was carried off for 
 the Tsar's choosing. A man thus used may 
 surely be credited with disinterestedness in offer- 
 ing service to a woman ! * 
 
 * If that is so/ she said, after a short silence, 
 ' I will listen to your proposal. Forgive me if I 
 did you an injustice,' she added ; * it may be that 
 in my present terror and agitation I have lost my 
 manners.' 
 
 ' I forgive everything at such a time,' I replied, 
 ' for I understand that you speak and act as one 
 who stands at the edge of an abyss. I see no 
 way of escape for you excepting by disappearance. 
 That is my view of the matter. If you stay here, 
 that is at your father's house, you remain in con-
 
 150 MAZEPPA 
 
 stant danger, almost as much so as though you 
 were actually within the terem ' 
 
 * That is true,' she said, sighing ; { but your 
 scheme, if that is the whole of it, is but a barren 
 one ; for how is a maiden to disappear in this city, 
 more especially one who is well known and easily 
 found ? ' 
 
 4 There is more in my scheme. I suggest that 
 you go for sanctuary, but secretly of course, to 
 the DieVitchy monastery.' 
 
 * And take the veil ? Oh, no, no ! I love 
 life and freedom, and God's air. I could not be a 
 nun with shorn head and a heart as bare of hope 
 and the joy of life ! ' 
 
 'You need not be a nun. You shall seek 
 refuge for awhile only, until the Tsar is well 
 married and all this is forgotten. Your hair may 
 remain a crown of glory to you as now. God 
 forbid that it should be taken from you ! ' 
 
 1 You speak impossibilities. You do not know 
 how strict is this community. Once lie in their 
 clutches, and forever the world is shut out to you, 
 and joy and the delight of living and of loving 
 oh ! there could be but one thing worse : to be 
 married to this prince. Oh ! why am I so plagued 
 for my sins that I must choose one of two such 
 horrible things ? Search your imagination, good 
 Chelminsky, I pray you ; think of a better way ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 151 
 
 * This is a good way, be assured. It so 
 happens that I have done these nuns and their 
 Superior a service for which they have promised 
 me a return. I shall demand that they give you 
 sanctuary, and they will concede it. When you 
 wish you shall come out, and with you shall come 
 your golden head all unshorn, and your heart no 
 more dead to the joy of living and loving than 
 to-day in short, you shall come forth, when the 
 Tsar is safely married, just as you now go 
 in!' 
 
 * Oh, Chelminsky, do not jest with me ! ' she 
 cried, her hands clasped together, her eyes full of 
 tears. * How could you obtain so great a favour ? 
 What is the claim you have upon these holy 
 women ? Remember, there is the curse of God 
 for liars ; more especially for such as lie to the 
 ruin and despair of helpless women ! ' 
 
 I told Vera the story of my encounter with 
 Rachmanof, and of his sister's attempted abduction 
 from the convent, and how the Superior had ex- 
 pressed gratitude for the service I rendered this 
 lady in preventing her brother in his designs. 
 
 * Oh, Chelminsky ! ' exclaimed Vera, flushing 
 and seizing me by the arm, * beware, I beseech 
 you, after this. I know him, this Rachmanof: 
 he is a man of evil temper ; he will kill you at 
 sight. His sister is beautiful. I do not wonder
 
 152 MAZEPPA 
 
 that you should have risked so much for her 
 sake ! ' 
 
 ' Oh, believe me,' I laughed, ' I scarcely looked 
 at her face. What I did I should have done for 
 any woman so situated. Come, is my offer a 
 good one ? What say you ? ' 
 
 t It is so good that I scarcely dare believe in 
 it. Can I trust you ? The Cossacks, it is said, 
 are a wild race, caring little for the rights of 
 others, or for the honour of women, so only they 
 have their way. You have shown me that 
 Mazeppa is not to be trusted ; how can I tell that 
 you are any better, who are his friend ? ' 
 
 * You cannot tell, of course. Cossacks are 
 said to be untrustworthy, and you cannot be 
 blamed for your doubting. Mazeppa is a fox 
 whom I have only lately caught in my own fowl- 
 run : do not take him into account or measure me 
 by his standard. Let him be. For the matter of 
 that, let me be also if you will not trust me. I 
 desire to serve you, that is all I can say believe 
 it or not.' 
 
 Vera gazed for a little while into my face. * I 
 do not think you are altogether trustworthy,' she 
 said, a faint smile playing for an instant about her 
 mouth, * judging, I mean, by your face. I fear 
 that you do not consider it wrong or dis- 
 honourable to deceive others to your own
 
 MAZEPPA 153 
 
 advantage ; yet I am inclined to trust you 
 now ' 
 
 * Because you must, and there is no other 
 way,' I cried, laughing aloud. * Come, speak the 
 full truth and I will do the same. Yes, I think 
 little of deception when it is necessary to my 
 well-being ; but I am a poor deceiver compared 
 with Mazeppa. In this I am not so good a 
 Cossack as he ; in other ways I think I am a 
 better. At this moment I am altogether honest ; 
 I do desire to serve you ' 
 
 * But why ? If only I could understand your 
 motive in this I should be easier in my mind.' 
 
 * Lord knows,' I laughed. * If you will have my 
 opinion, however, I believe it is that, since I have 
 discovered that Mazeppa admires you, I have 
 begun to admire you also. I have lately deter- 
 mined to get the better of Mazeppa, or try to do 
 so, in every matter in which our destinies meet, 
 throughout life. I suppose, therefore, that I 
 wish you to think better of me than of him.' 
 
 Vera was silent for a moment. Then she 
 burst into a delightful torrent of laughter, so 
 that for a while she could not speak. 
 
 'Come,' she said at last, clapping her hands and 
 coughing, * that is truth, real naked truth. Oh ! 
 what a motive ! But it is truth, and I will trust 
 you. Come, when shall we go ? '
 
 154 MAZEPPA 
 
 f This moment, if you please,' said I, gazing 
 at the girl in a kind of rapture. I had never seen 
 her look so beautiful as now, with the colour in 
 her cheeks and the tears of mirth in her eyes. 
 She was charming indeed !
 
 MAZEPPA 155 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated 
 not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera 
 for a while under exemption from the strict rules 
 of the convent. 
 
 She took Vera's hand and patted it, laying 
 her own presently upon her golden crown of hair. 
 
 * Too fair, too fair,' she smiled, * to be shorn ! 
 Are you in some danger, my pretty ? ' 
 
 * In great danger, mother,' said Vera. t The 
 Regent would have the Tsar Ivan choose me, and 
 indeed I would sooner die ! ' 
 
 'There is no need for that,' exclaimed the 
 Superior, laughing kindly, ' for in case of extreme 
 danger you should be received here under full 
 vows, and who would dare to touch you then ? 
 That would be better than death, child ; believe 
 me, we are not so terribly miserable here, though 
 we have withdrawn from the outside world. If 
 we do not hear its laughter, neither do its moans 
 distress our ears.' 
 
 ' Nevertheless, good mother,' said Vera, * I
 
 156 MAZEPPA 
 
 would sooner remain in the world. God may 
 be served without these walls as well as within 
 them.' 
 
 ' That is both true and untrue. But remain 
 in the world by all means, pretty : who would 
 prevent thee ? Moreover, we are most of us 
 disappointed women we have had our sorrows, 
 our bereavements, our sins, many of us, and 
 therefore we are here. You, I doubt not, have 
 reason enough for desiring neither to be Tsaritsa 
 nor to enter sanctuary ; maybe, also, I can guess 
 the reason.' 
 
 The good old woman glanced in my direc- 
 tion, smiling very kindly. * Oh, well, well,' she 
 ended, c we have all been young once. God send 
 thee happiness, my child, of the best that the 
 world can give, and remember, in case the world 
 prove illusive and disappointing, that there is 
 pure happiness to be had here also, even though 
 it is not that which the world generally esteems 
 highest.' Vera blushed, but spoke up frankly. 
 
 1 Mother, it is right that I should undeceive 
 you, for you are mistaken. I am heart-free, and 
 this good youth is in love with another maiden? 
 who is, alas ! in the terem, as I should be also 
 but for his kindness and yours ! ' 
 
 * Dear Mother of the Lord ! ' exclaimed the 
 old woman, raising her hands in pious horror.
 
 MAZEPPA 157 
 
 < In the terem^ and he loves her ? Can you not 
 save her, good Cossack, and bring her to us ? 
 Heaven forfend that so good a youth should be 
 so ill-treated by fate ! Bring her to me, my son, 
 bring her to me, as you have saved two already 
 from the danger of loveless marriage.' 
 
 * Let her be, mother, let her be ! ' I cried, 
 laughing ; ' she went of her free will, deserting 
 me for the chance of selection as Tsaritsa. I am 
 under no illusion : she is not one to be wept for. 
 I have torn her from my heart, and be sure I 
 am none the worse ! ' 
 
 I saw Vera flush and listen as I said this, and 
 the sight pleased me well. The old lady sighed. 
 
 * Poor youth, you have done wisely, yet you 
 must have suffered much ! Be comforted, your 
 heart will find its home ; rest assured, so brave a 
 one will not go long a-begging. Now farewell, 
 my son, for I have many duties and the days are 
 too short for those who toil in God's service. 
 Stay, this pretty one will desire to hear news of 
 the bride-choosing, and of the Regent's attitude 
 when her disappearance is discovered. Come 
 here, if you will, from time to time : you shall 
 see her in the ante-room which is set apart for 
 such meetings. By our rules another must be 
 present, but do not fret lest her secret should be 
 known to others, for 1 myself shall be that third
 
 158 MAZEPPA 
 
 party. Now come, my pretty, and you good 
 Cossack depart.' 
 
 * If they send, mother, to seek her, what 
 then ? ' I asked, my hand upon the door. 
 
 * They may send, but they will not find her ! ' 
 smiled the good old woman. 
 
 And Vera, as I left the room, gave me a 
 glance which I liked well a look which I 
 analysed in my memory many times afterwards, 
 and most carefully, and from which at each 
 recollection 1 derived satisfaction and delight. 
 
 4 That is a girl who can love like another, in 
 spite of her piety, and her gentleness, and her 
 honesty and other rare qualities,' thought I, t and 
 will love well. Happy he who gains that heart, 
 for I think he will find it true gold. Moreover, 
 that man is not Mazeppa ! ' This last considera- 
 tion afforded me wondrous comfort and delight, 
 and I dwelt upon it so long and so lovingly that 
 I almost forgot to consider what was my own 
 chance of winning where he had certainly lost. 
 
 When I did take this matter into considera- 
 tion and weighed it together with the glance 
 which Vera had thrown in my direction as I left 
 the convent well, I felt a glow of renewed 
 delight. 
 
 * I will out-fox you in this, old fox Mazeppa,' 
 I thought, ' or it shall not be for want of trying.'
 
 MAZEPPA 159 
 
 And when I had come to this determination 
 I returned to the city in order to acquaint 
 Mazeppa with the disconcerting fact of Vera's 
 mysterious disappearance, and to enjoy his sur- 
 prise arid probable anger and disgust. 
 
 I found Mazeppa at his lodging. 
 
 * Well ? ' he asked, and waited with evident 
 anxiety for my response. 
 
 1 Not so very well,' I laughed. * That is, she 
 is, I suppo'se, safe, but it has not happened as yc 
 desired.' 
 
 * It has not ? * he said, looking annoyec 
 * Wherefore not ? ' 
 
 * She has disappeared. She is not at her 
 home, and her father knows nothing of her 
 whereabouts.' 
 
 * By all the devils ! ' exclaimed Mazeppa, 
 growing suddenly furious. { How dare she dis- 
 appear when I had promised to succour her and 
 see to her safety ? ' 
 
 * Ask her that when you find her ! ' I said 
 haughtily. * How should I reply to such a 
 riddle ? ' Mazeppa stamped his foot with anger, 
 but controlled himself. 
 
 * But where do you suppose she has hidden 
 herself ? has she taken a horse, servants, and so 
 forth ? Tell me the details, man, as you know 
 them ! Do you not see that I am anxious
 
 160 MAZEPPA 
 
 about the girl and must know all you have to 
 tell ? ' 
 
 { I have told all I have to tell. She has dis- 
 appeared. If she is wise she has gone a long 
 way and will tell to no one where to seek her. 
 You should hope this as much as 1. Do we not 
 both desire that she should escape from this loath- 
 some marriage with the Tsar ? If so, what 
 matters it to us where she is, so long as she is 
 safe ? The further the better, say I ! ' 
 
 'That is true, of course,' said Mazeppa, with 
 a quick glance at me. * My own object, no less 
 than yours, was to get her out of the way and 
 into safety ; but I am interested in the girl, and 
 would prefer to keep in touch with her.' 
 
 * Yet how awkward that would be, if it should 
 occur to the Regent to suspect you and to put 
 certain awkward questions to you. As it is, you 
 can reply, if asked, that you know nothing. At 
 any rate, I suppose you do not hold me to blame 
 because the girl has disappeared ? ' 
 
 Mazeppa glanced keenly at me and flushed. 
 
 *I had not thought of it until you suggested it ! ' 
 he said. * If the girl were anything to you I should 
 certainly suspect you ; but I believe she is not.' 
 
 < Anything to me she, this yellow-haired 
 chit ? Oh, she is too pious and gentle for us 
 Cossacks, Mazeppa ; she is not the stuff we look
 
 MAZEPPA 161 
 
 for, we Cossacks. I think she is not much to 
 either of us, though I confess that I had imagined 
 at one time you looked somewhat fondly upon 
 the girl.' 
 
 f You are a fool, Chelminsky,' said Mazeppa. 
 * Do you suppose I should take so much trouble 
 to help the girl out of her troubles if I took no 
 interest in her ? I tell you she is a finer girl than 
 I have seen in the Ukraine ! ' 
 
 * What, finer than Olga Panief, whom you tried 
 to steal from me ? ' 
 
 * Lord, man, she stole herself from both of us. 
 Olga is a fine wench, but she is not fit to lace this 
 other's bodice ! ' 
 
 * Oh, is it so ? ' I laughed. ' Then, indeed, 
 we must see whether she cannot be found, this 
 timid Vera of ours ! Lord, Mazeppa, you should 
 have told me of this before.' 
 
 * Well, now you know it : show your friend- 
 ship by finding the wench,' he said. * You have 
 nothing to do in Moscow : I am busy as an official 
 at this choosing. Exert yourself, Chelminsky, I 
 beseech you, and find her, or trace of her.' 
 
 * Would you marry her, Mazeppa ? ' I cried, 
 'or would it be a mere spiriting away of the 
 girl?' 
 
 * Oh, it is too soon to speak of such things,' 
 he replied, smiling ; ' first find her, my friend ; 
 
 M
 
 1 62 MAZEPPA 
 
 earn my gratitude, for, seriously, I am badly 
 thrown by her disappearance.' 
 
 { Well, I shall see what I can do ! ' I replied ; 
 but I left Mazeppa with my tongue in my cheek ; 
 for this time, for once, I had out-foxed him. I had 
 the wench under my thumb, and he had revealed 
 his game. A good day's work, by the saints !
 
 MAZEPPA 163 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 FROM this time things began to go somewhat 
 contrariwise. There came excitements and perils 
 and failures, together with some successes and cer- 
 tain moments of great joy ; but the smoothness 
 which had been my portion in life during late years 
 became changed, and I travelled over rough and 
 stony roads. 
 
 There was uproar in the Kurbatof mansion 
 when it was discovered that Vera the fair had fled 
 without farewell. Old Kurbatof, that proud and 
 angry old Boyar, was furious with rage. 
 
 * The minx has wrecked her own fortune,' he 
 cried ; * she who might have been the first woman 
 in the land ! I tell you the Tsar is sick with love 
 for the wench dear saints in Heaven ! and she 
 must needs object to this in him and to that, and 
 disappear rather than share the throne with him. 
 Oh, the fool ; the blind, senseless minx ! As if the 
 husband mattered when a crown and sceptre go 
 with him ! ' 
 
 * Maybe she is in love with some young 
 
 M 2
 
 164 MAZEPPA 
 
 coxcomb, Boyar ! ' ventured a servant ; but the 
 Boyar fell upon him and struck him with his 
 dubina so that the fellow lay for a week and 
 groaned. 
 
 c Let her be a hundred times in love, what 
 matters ? ' he roared. Then he assembled the 
 household and gave out that if any man dared 
 whisper outside the house that the Barishnya 
 Vera had disappeared he should be punished with 
 fifty blows of the knout and sent to the estate to 
 work in the fields. * Let her be found before 
 the bride-choosing,' he said, 'and there shall be 
 one hundred roubles for the finder. Till she 
 is found not a word remember, one and all, 
 or I swear the devil shall be a gentler master 
 than I ! ' 
 
 Notwithstanding which threats, however, the 
 secret did leak out as shall presently be seen 
 though Vera's departure was fortunately not 
 known at the palace, where all were busy with the 
 rest of the maidens, of whom the whole number 
 were by this time assembled. 
 
 As for me, I went boldly here and there as 
 before, and there was no suspicion that I knew any- 
 thing about Vera and her disappearance. Whether 
 Mazeppa suspected or not I could not with certainty 
 discover, for if so he did not show it. Indeed, 
 Mazeppa would be the very last person to go to
 
 MAZEPPA 165 
 
 for any indication of Mazeppa's own feelings on 
 this or any matter, supposing that he desired to 
 preserve his sentiments to himself. 
 
 But two days after Vera's admission into sanc- 
 tuary I, guessing that she would be anxious to 
 know how matters went with regard to her dis- 
 appearance, determined to visit the Dievitchy 
 monastery, in order to assure her that all was so 
 far well. 
 
 Now I was not easy in my mind with regard 
 to Mazeppa and his suspicion of me. Knowing 
 him as I did, it was impossible to think that he 
 would not be suspicious : it was an equal wager that 
 his spies were on the watch in order to acquaint 
 him with my doings, where I went and whom I 
 saw, and so forth. 
 
 Therefore I resolved to go most circum- 
 spectly, to walk half round the city before bend- 
 ing my steps towards the monastery, and to keep 
 my eyes wide open the while on all four sides 
 of me. 
 
 And thus I became aware, before I had gone 
 far, that there followed in my steps a man 
 unknown to me. Wheresoever I went, there 
 was he. As I turned out of a street and glanced 
 behind me, there he was entering it at the further 
 end ; or if I stopped in the midst of a pereoolok 
 (lane) and looked back, perhaps he was tying his
 
 1 66 MAZEPPA 
 
 shoe-lace, or he had turned almost as quickly as I, 
 as though he desired me to think that he walked 
 in the opposite direction. 
 
 * Oho, my man,' thought I, ' it is well, and 
 very well. We will go into a quiet place I know 
 of, you and I, and there we shall enjoy a little 
 private conversation ! ' 
 
 Having now made sure that my man was 
 certainly dogging me, I looked round no more 
 lest I should alarm him ; but taking a short way 
 to an outskirt of the city I brought him in safety 
 to a lonely spot, where I turned a corner and 
 waited until he should come round and fall into 
 my arms. 
 
 This he did very quickly, and no sooner did 
 his face appear than I sprang upon him and had 
 him pinned in an instant by the throat against 
 the wall. 
 
 'Now, my friend,' said I, fiercely enough, 
 
 * before I choke your life out at the mouth, who 
 set you to dog me ? ' 
 
 ' Let go of me and I will tell you,' he said, 
 
 * if you will spare my life afterwards.' 
 
 I let him go. ' Well,' I said, < who ? ' 
 
 He gazed up the street and down it, as 
 
 though in search of help ; but he found none. 
 f Quickly,' I said. c Before I count three ; 
 
 one two '
 
 MAZEPPA 167 
 
 c Mazeppa the Cossack,' he muttered. * But 
 for the sake of all good saints let him not know 
 that I told thee.' 
 
 c Thanks, friend,' I said. * Be sure I shall 
 not. You were to watch where I went : is that 
 it?' 
 
 * Where you went and whom you spoke to 
 and all you did.' 
 
 * Did you follow me yesterday, then ? ' 
 
 c All day long ; it was yesterday early at morn 
 that I took the Cossack's orders.' 
 
 'Good. Well, I shall not tell of thee. 
 Meanwhile here is a rouble ; and if thou art 
 wise, continue in the pay of Mazeppa, for he 
 shall know nothing of this ; only do not follow 
 me ; take his money but remain at home : do 
 you understand ? ' 
 
 The fellow laughed and thanked me and went 
 his way : I had no fear that 1 should see any 
 more of him. 
 
 But it was now too late to carry out my 
 intention of going to see Vera, therefore I changed 
 my mind and paid Mazeppa a visit instead. 
 
 We spoke of the bride-choosing, and I asked 
 Mazeppa whether anything had been heard of 
 Vera. 
 
 * Not a word,' said he, ' unless it was you that 
 heard it ! '
 
 1 68 MAZEPPA 
 
 ' And wherefore I ? ' 1 asked in assumed 
 surprise. 
 
 * Only that you have doubtless made inquiries, 
 and I was in hopes you might have heard some- 
 thing of her.' 
 
 'Tell me, Mazeppa, do you suspect me of 
 concealing anything from you in this matter ? 
 Do you believe me to be less honest with you 
 than you are I doubt not towards me ? ' 
 
 * Suspect you, my best of friends ? ' exclaimed 
 Mazeppa. * Heaven forbid ! Why do you ask 
 so foolish a question ? ' 
 
 * Well, I have a reason. You must know 
 that as I walked out this day I became aware 
 that I was dogged by some unknown rascal, and 
 I must confess that the idea did occur to me that 
 for some reason unguessed by me you had set a 
 watch upon my goings. Now that I reflect upon 
 the matter, I see that the suspicion was foolish 
 and baseless. Yet who should have set the rascal 
 to spy upon me, and why ? ' 
 
 * That is impossible to guess ; but at any rate 
 do not suspect your oldest friend,' said Mazeppa. 
 * Could you not compel the fellow to declare 
 himself ? ' 
 
 * A man must be caught before he is com- 
 pelled,' I laughed, * as a hare must be trapped
 
 MAZEPPA 169 
 
 before he is stewed ; and like a hare indeed the 
 fellow ran.' 
 
 I watched Mazeppa's face as I spoke, expect- 
 ing to see at least a look of relief, but my fox 
 gave no sign. 
 
 ' That is a misfortune,' he said, ' that you 
 could not catch the rascal, for I wager you would 
 have found him no employed spy, but a very 
 common cutpurse with a better opinion of your 
 purse's weight than it deserves ! ' 
 
 * True ! ' I said, ' I had not thought of it.' 
 
 ' For who in this city would desire to spy 
 upon you, of all unlikely people ? ' he continued ; 
 c you, a poor Cossack, unknown to all, or near 
 it!' 
 
 * Yes, it is true, I was a fool, I own it ! ' said 
 I, sighing. * Shall I confess to the end, Mazeppa, 
 and tell thee all I suspected ? ' 
 
 * Say on ! confess, and it may be that I shall 
 give thee absolution,' said Mazeppa, laughing, 
 * if thy sin is not too great, and thy repentance is 
 sincere ! * 
 
 * Well, believe it or not,' said I, affecting 
 confusion, * but alas ! it is true that I actually 
 suspected that thou being somewhat in love 
 with this Kurbatof maiden wert, lover-like, 
 apprehensive that all others must see her with thine
 
 i yo MAZEPPA 
 
 eyes, and therefore must needs suspect innocent 
 me of hiding the wench for my own purposes, 
 having me watched, moreover, in case I should 
 thus reveal her private hiding-place by visiting 
 her!' 

 
 MAZEPPA 171 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 *OH, foolish Chelminsky !' exclaimed Mazeppa, 
 * that is going out of thy way, indeed, to find 
 cause of quarrel with an old friend. I am 
 attracted by the wench, true enough ; but must 
 all men sigh for the same woman ? Fear not, so 
 little do I suspect thee that I entreat thee to show 
 thy friendship for me by finding this girl, or 
 helping me to find her.' 
 
 1 And this fellow the spy who followed me : 
 you know nothing of him ? ' 
 
 * Nothing, my friend what should I know ? 
 I may have my opinion namely, that he was a 
 robber and no spy ; but as for knowing what 
 should I know ? ' 
 
 * Swear it by thy horse and lance ! ' 
 
 * Oh, most suspicious and unfriendly of 
 friends, I do so swear, if so it must be ! ' 
 
 1 Good ; there is no more need for suspicion. 
 If I catch the fellow following again, I shall kill 
 him at sight for a mere cutpurse, or rather for a 
 would-be cutpurse.'
 
 172 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Do so, my friend,' said Mazeppa ; * he 
 deserves his fate for having come, in a manner, 
 between old friends.' 
 
 'Verily, Mazeppa,' I thought, as I left my 
 fox, <thou art a most wondrously gifted liar ! ' For 
 indeed he had lied thoroughly, even taking our 
 Cossack oath in witness to his falsehood, without 
 the twitching of an eyelid. 
 
 This day I went out to visit Vera once -again 
 at her monastery, but though I looked constantly 
 and carefully for followers I observed none, and 
 it is certain that I was not watched. I reached 
 the sanctuary in safety, moreover, and was 
 received first by the Superior, who was pleased to 
 see me. 
 
 ' For thy fair friend perishes to hear news of 
 all that is happening at home and at Court,' she 
 said ; ( and, if the truth must be known, I believe 
 she will not be averse to see her preserver and 
 knight, being somewhat anxious for his safety 
 lest he be suspected of capturing and concealing 
 her.' 
 
 4 Let her come, good mother,' I said, * for 
 indeed I begin to think there is no sight on earth 
 that delights me more than her fair face.' 
 
 * Ah ah ! said I not so ? ' murmured the 
 good soul, gently patting my arm as she left the 
 room to fetch Vera. * So the faithless maid who
 
 MAZEPPA 173 
 
 preferred her chance at the terem to thy assured 
 love is already forgotten ? Oh, man, man ! this 
 Vera is too good for so faithless a swain 1 ' 
 
 * It is not my fault, mother,' I said ; ' do not 
 speak me ill to Vera. I do not fawn where 1 am 
 beaten ; I can show a true heart when I am 
 shown one.' 
 
 * Well, well ! hers is golden, my friend, little 
 doubt of that : he who wins it must prize it too 
 highly to give her in exchange a thing of dross.' 
 
 Vera entered, blushing and excited. 
 
 * Is all well ? ' she said. * Good Chelminsky, 
 tell me quickly ! ' 
 
 * Well, and very well,' I replied ; * though it 
 almost went very ill, for I was spied upon yester- 
 day, being suspected of knowing your where- 
 abouts.' 
 
 ' Suspected ! and by whom ? ' 
 
 * By a very cunning person, whose wiles are 
 infinite, and whom I should name " the father of 
 lies " if that title had not already been appro- 
 priated by an ally of his ' 
 
 * But who who ?' she cried. 
 
 * Oh, who but Mazeppa ! ' and when I told 
 Vera the whole story of the spy and his confes- 
 sion and Mazeppa's denial, she agreed that this 
 was indeed a deceiver of whom it was necessary 
 to beware.
 
 i 7 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 * But what of the palace and of my father ? ' 
 continued Vera * Have I been missed by the 
 Regent, and what has my father done ? for he, of 
 course, has long since discovered that I have left 
 home.' 
 
 * At the palace they are so busy weeding out 
 the plainer blooms that the fairest flowers are for 
 the present neglected ; therefore, you have not 
 been asked for. As for your father, I hear 
 privately that he is most distressed that you 
 should attempt to evade the glorious destiny 
 which Providence and his own parental solicitude 
 have opened to you. He has forbidden any 
 word to go out concerning your disappearance, 
 lest it should be known at the palace. He 
 reckons upon finding you before your disappear- 
 ance is known to the Regent.' 
 
 * Oh, for the love of Christ, good Chelminsky, 
 he must not he must not ! Were you careful 
 in your going this day ? Are you sure you were 
 not spied upon and your destination noted ? My 
 father is as cunning, maybe, as Mazeppa him- 
 self.' 
 
 *I am certain that my coming was not ob- 
 served. I frightened my former friend too well ; 
 he remained in safety at home, be sure, and there 
 was no other. I tell you I doubled and dis- 
 sembled in my going as a bear does at the first
 
 MAZEPPA 175 
 
 snowfall, when he chooses, his winter's lair and 
 would put trackers off the scent.' 
 
 Vera laughed for joy, her apprehension 
 relieved. f Thank God if that is so, and thank 
 you also, good Chelminsky ; be sure your kind- 
 ness is not forgotten. But what steps has my 
 father taken to find me ? ' she asked, growing 
 grave again suddenly. 
 
 * He has sent word to your country estate. 
 Your nurse declared that you had threatened to 
 go there if pressed.' 
 
 * It is true, it is true ! ' cried Vera, clapping 
 her hands. * I did so. Oh, Chelminsky, it is a 
 four days' ride at the quickest, and four back 
 that is eight days. By the time they return the 
 Tsar may have made his choice, and I shall be 
 safe.' 
 
 f Good, and very good ; let us hope it may 
 be so. Meanwhile,' I continued, lowering my 
 voice for the good Mother Superior sat reading 
 her holy book at the other end of the room, 
 being present according to the law of the com- 
 munity * supposing it were suddenly suggested 
 that you might be here, and the place were 
 searched, would you be safely concealed ? ' 
 
 * I am told that it may be done, but I should 
 be frightened, indeed, if it came to that. Let us 
 hope that such a danger may not arise.'
 
 176 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Yes, let us hope so,' I said. f Nevertheless 
 they hope best who have assured the future ; 
 therefore decide beforehand what is to be done 
 in case of surprise. If there is a private chapel, 
 hide in the Holy Place.' 
 
 f How can I ? No woman is admitted there.' 
 
 1 Well, I think our old friend here is not one 
 to stand upon ceremony in emergency. There is 
 no resident priest ; no one will prevent you. 
 Think of it. It is a good hiding place, and I am 
 glad I thought of it. Suggest it to the mother 
 in the moment of danger, and you will see.' 
 
 A moment of danger came most unexpectedly, 
 even as we sat there and whispered together ; 
 indeed, a truly unfortunate and mistimed occur- 
 rence, and one that must have had terrible 
 consequences, but for the most wonderful mercy 
 of God, the protector of the innocent. 
 
 For even as we spoke of possible danger, 
 there rang out a loud and startling peal at the 
 great bell which hung in the entrance hall. 
 
 The Superior started to her feet. ' A visitor,' 
 she cried, f and oh, how ill-chosen an hour ! Be 
 comforted,' she added, seeing our frightened 
 faces, ' I will tell the door-keeper to admit no 
 one.' 
 
 She left the room. Vera clung to my arm, 
 and I drew her to me.
 
 MAZEPPA 177 
 
 1 Be not afraid, Vera ; I will protect you 
 though all the world rage at the gates demand- 
 ing you.' 
 
 * Oh, Chelminsky, I am frightened ! ' she said. 
 * Do not let them take me to the Tsar ; I will not 
 live to be his wife. I will tell him so. Oh, God 
 help me, God help me ! ' 
 
 4 He will help you, never fear,' I said. * In 
 this I shall be God's soldier ; I shall fight the 
 better knowing that the protecting of you is the 
 service of God ! ' 
 
 ' Give me your sword,' she said suddenly ; 
 and, drawing it herself from the scabbard, she 
 first made the sign of the cross over it, and then 
 kissed it thrice. 
 
 'Let it pass through my body rather than see 
 me carried back to the teremj she said. * I am 
 not afraid of death, but I am afraid of Sophia and 
 of Ivan : his touch is poison to me.' 
 
 < Well, I will fight to the death first,' I said. 
 
 Meanwhile the great door had been opened 
 and I heard a parleying. There were men's 
 voices and the voices of the Superior and the old 
 woman who kept the door. The voices grew 
 louder, and there was one which seemed familiar, 
 though I did not as yet recognise it. This voice 
 grew more threatening, appearing to insist upon 
 some point which the Superior contested. 
 
 N
 
 r 7 8 MAZEPPA 
 
 Suddenly I recognised that louder voice : it 
 was that of the young fellow Rachmanof, with 
 whom I had had a set-to on behalf of his sister, 
 whom he attempted to carry off from this very 
 sanctuary. The discovery filled me with joy. 
 
 1 Be of good cheer, Vera,' I whispered ; * they 
 come not for thee, but for the sister of this young 
 Rachmanof. We were frightened too soon, 
 wench ; they are not thinking of thee ; thou art 
 safe ! ' 
 
 * Oh, thanks to Him from whom are all 
 mercies ! ' she began ; but at this moment there 
 came loud cries for help from the Mother Superior 
 and the other woman, and I could do nothing 
 less than rush out to their succour. 
 
 On the single flight of steps that led to our 
 ante-room, as well as to the door which com- 
 municated with the main building, I saw a notable 
 spectacle, and one which has lingered in my 
 memory. 
 
 First, near the top of the stairs, stood the tall, 
 gaunt form of the good mother, holding her 
 great silver cross aloft as she cried for help. A 
 few steps below her stood Rachmanof, sword in 
 hand. God knows whether he had meant to 
 strike the old woman down or merely to frighten 
 her, but there was the sword. 
 
 At the foot of the stairs were two other young
 
 MAZEPPA 179 
 
 fellows, dressed in the uniform of the Streltsi 
 regiments. These two held between them the 
 form of the old doorkeeper, having gagged her 
 mouth to stop her crying. 
 
 Their lips had been opened to laugh, but 
 at sight of me their faces settled into a grim 
 expression, and Rachmanof flushed and looked 
 furiously angry. 
 
 They had shut the outer door behind them, 
 fearing, doubtless, that any uproar might assemble 
 a crowd whose attitude would be hostile to 
 them. 
 
 N 2
 
 i8o MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 RACHMANOF glared at me for a moment. 
 
 f So ! ' he said. < You again ! Well, it is bad 
 luck for you, my friend, that I have caught you, 
 for this time you shall not escape me : you have a 
 reckoning unpaid ! ' 
 
 * Oh, I will pay it twice over, friend ! ' I said. 
 1 Here is my money-bag ! ' I tapped my sword 
 and laughed. 
 
 ( Let the old scarecrow run,' said Rachmanof, 
 half turning his head towards his companions ; 
 * let her pass, Cossack, she will be in our way. 
 Disappear you also, shameless old hag,' he con- 
 tinued, wagging his finger at the Superior. { A fine 
 mother of innocent maidens, you ! Fie ! A man 
 in the house, and of all men a filthy Cossack ! 
 Fie, I say ! ' 
 
 { Rachmanof,' I muttered, * for that speech 
 you shall die if I can kill you. Go, mother, go 
 into the ante-room, and pray your hardest that I 
 may kill this beast.' 
 
 * Yes, pray your hardest,' laughed Rachmanof ; 
 ' he will need it ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 181 
 
 * Fight in God's name,' said the good old 
 woman, disappearing into the ante-room. ' I will 
 pray for God's curse upon those who invade this 
 holy house.' 
 
 The old doorkeeper pushed past Rachmanof 
 and disappeared also, crying and muttering prayers 
 or curses, or I know not what. The two Streltsi 
 fellows came several steps higher towards Rach- 
 manof. 
 
 Then the fight began without further delay. 
 
 Rachmanof made a quick lunge at me with 
 his sword, but the blow fell short, and I laughed 
 aloud at him. 
 
 ' You will have to come to closer quarters, 
 Rachmanof ; there is no help for it,' I said. * It 
 is dangerous, I admit, and mighty unpleasant, but 
 it must be done ! ' 
 
 With a curse he ran three steps upwards and 
 lunged again. This time it was necessary to parry, 
 and I replied with a counter thrust which he just, 
 but only just, contrived to turn aside. 
 
 Then the two others came nearer, in response 
 to Rachmanof's orders. * Seize your opportunity 
 to rush in,' he said, f as soon as you perceive an 
 opening.' 
 
 There was a slight pause while Rachmanof 
 and his men took breath, watching me, and think- 
 ing how best to overpower me by combination.
 
 1 82 MAZEPPA 
 
 Luckily, the stairs were too narrow to admit of 
 two men fighting abreast, else I suppose I should 
 have been overpowered, for they were good men, 
 all three. 
 
 During the pause I could distinctly hear the 
 good Superior praying fervently in the ante-room, 
 of which the door was open. 
 
 Then suddenly Rachmanof rushed upon me, 
 and after him another, whose rush was useless, 
 however, for he found himself obliged to wait at 
 Rachmanof s heels, and when he tried to lunge at 
 me his sword nearly pierced his friend's shoulder. 
 
 I had the best of it as to position, and of this 
 I was determined to take full advantage. His rush 
 was easily stopped, and when I assumed the 
 attack it was not difficult to drive him downwards, 
 since I smote at him from above. Step by step 
 he descended, and his supporter was obliged to 
 descend also, for Rachmanof would otherwise 
 have trodden upon him. 
 
 Nevertheless, he fought well for his ground, 
 and did not cease striking and thrusting at me, 
 defending himself at the same time with great 
 skill. 
 
 Then I tried a trick upon my man. I pre- 
 tended to stagger backwards, in order to draw him 
 forward with a long thrust. This succeeded. He 
 thrust so vigorously that he was half overbalanced,
 
 MAZEPPA 183 
 
 and I brought my sword down cleaverwise upon 
 his skull. 
 
 Down he went backward into the arms of his 
 friend, who, however, instead of laying him down 
 and giving me a moment of breathing time, held 
 him up with his left arm and lunged instantly at 
 me with his right. The movement was so rapid 
 that I could not withdraw my foot in time, and I 
 received a nasty dig in the soft of my leg. 
 
 But my man found he had made a bad specu- 
 lation, for, rushing quickly upon him while he still 
 stood hampered by his unconscious companion, I 
 easily passed through his scrambling defence, and 
 he dropped Rachmanof with a curse as my sword 
 cut through his arm. 
 
 Then he stood and stamped his feet, cursing 
 at the pain and shouting to the third man, who 
 stood at the foot of the stairs, to come forward 
 and help slay the filthy Cossack who had wounded 
 both himself and Vassia. 
 
 * Better leave me alone, friend, and take these 
 fellows away, lest a worse thing happen ! ' I cried 
 aloud, with a laugh. * See what an advantage I 
 have in this position ! be sure I shall spit you 
 if you come nearer ! ' 
 
 The fellow seemed to consider for a moment, 
 while Rachmanof lay and groaned and the other 
 sat and cursed. He came close to Rachmanof
 
 184 MAZEPPA 
 
 and examined his wound, which was an ugly 
 gash in the head, and did not look likely to have 
 a quick mending. 
 
 ' Can you fight any more, Gregorief ? ' he 
 asked of the other fellow, who sat and cursed 
 with a hole in his shoulder or arm. 
 
 f How the devil can I fight with my sword 
 arm pierced ? A pretty coward are you to 
 hesitate : spit the jeering beast through the 
 stomach, and maybe I shall be able to help in 
 sending him on towards hell.' 
 
 Almost before he had finished speaking, the 
 third man, the unwounded one, made a rush 
 upwards as though to lunge at me with his 
 sword, but instead of doing so he suddenly 
 ducked his head, and, spreading himself forward 
 on his face, very quickly and dexterously seized 
 my ankle, and with a violent tug upset me, so 
 that I fell upon the back of my head on the 
 stairs. It was a mighty crash, and as I fell I 
 heard a kind of tumult on the landing above me ; 
 but from the moment my head touched the floor 
 I knew nothing until I regained consciousness in 
 the "ante-room, and observed with surprise that I 
 lay there with Vera weeping at my feet and the 
 good mother praying at my head, as though I 
 were already a corpse. 
 
 I felt pain in my leg and pain in my left arm,
 
 MAZEPPA 185 
 
 and a most racking pain in my head, so that for 
 the first few moments I could not for my life 
 remember what had happened to me. * What is 
 the matter ? ' I asked. * What has happened ? 
 Why do you weep, Vera ? ' 
 
 ' You have fought a great fight for us, my son,' 
 said the motherland have put to flight our enemies, 
 for which the blessing of God shall rest upon you. 
 Vera weeps because she fears you are sorely hurt, 
 but I think there is no cause for fear. You have 
 two flesh wounds, and a terrible blow on the back 
 of your head has sent your wits wandering ; but 
 you will soon be better now that you know us 
 and can speak. Do you remember fighting 
 young Rachmanof and two others on the stairs ? ' 
 
 ' 1 remember now,' said I. * Where are they ? 
 They have not prevailed, mother ? Oh, surely I 
 did not allow them to pass up ? ' 
 
 * No, no, all is well, my son : they have 
 departed, all three, and his sister is safe within. 
 She knows nothing of the danger she has been 
 through this day. Do your wounds pain you ? ' 
 
 * Not much. I do not remember this o$e in 
 the arm. How came I by that ? After I fell ? ' 
 
 ' I will tell you. There was a rush of your 
 enemies upon you, and we heard the scuffling and 
 cursing. Vera was alarmed for your safety, and 
 ran out upon the landing just as you fell back-
 
 1 86 MAZEPPA 
 
 wards. When you fell the wounded man gashed 
 you with his sword, which entered your arm ; 
 then Vera ' 
 
 ' No, no, mother, have pity ! ' cried Vera, 
 closing her ears with her hands. * Do not speak 
 of it. I have killed a man, Chelminsky, and I 
 am accursed there ! I have said it. How 
 should God or man love a woman who has slain 
 a fellow creature ? I tell you it is an accursed 
 thing for a woman ! ' 
 
 * Peace, Vera, you did not kill him, for he 
 was alive enough to walk into the street alone. 
 Peace, I say, child. Listen, Chelminsky, and I will 
 tell you all. You may, I think, under a merciful 
 Providence, thank Vera for your life, which was 
 nearly taken. Vera snatched your sword, which 
 had fallen from your hand, and with it attacked 
 so furiously the fellow who had struck at you as 
 you lay that he cried for mercy and rolled down 
 the stairs out of the way. Meanwhile I dragged 
 you, with Vera's help, into this room, locking the 
 door behind us. Presently, hearing the street 
 door open, I looked cautiously forth, and lo ! our 
 three men were departing. One was, I think, 
 almost or quite untouched : he it was that sup- 
 ported Rachmanof, who seemed badly wounded, 
 though he stood upon his feet. As for him
 
 MAZEPPA 187 
 
 whom Vera struck at, he walked out, as I say, by 
 himself. Nay, Vera, be comforted, child, for now 
 I think of it, he was alive enough to shake his 
 fist at me, and curse me ! ' The good old woman 
 laughed and patted Vera, who now stopped 
 crying. 
 
 c Curses do not lie upon such as thee, good 
 mother,' I said, laughing. f Cheer thee, Vera ! 
 Be sure thou art not accursed. I am glad indeed 
 the fellow carried away a beating from thee. Did 
 the sword bite ? Did blood flow ? ' 
 
 * Nay, leave the matter, it is painful to her,' 
 said the older woman. * Vera is gentle, and has 
 seen no blood shed up to this day. Let her be, 
 Chelminsky.' 
 
 * At any rate, be thanked, both, for your good 
 service to me ! ' said I ; * for indeed I am glad to 
 live. Oh that you had beaten that third fellow, 
 Vera, even more soundly ! The rascal ! he threw 
 me by a trick. I will not rest until I have made 
 his head buzz for him as he has made mine ! ' 
 
 * Nay, that you cannot,' said the mother, * for 
 you are not fit to move, and shall not. Are you 
 content to lie here for a day or two days ? There 
 is an old sister within who is clever with herbs 
 and plasters : she will mend you as quickly as the 
 best of leeches.'
 
 1 88 MAZEPPA 
 
 ' It is not necessary,' I said. * I would rather 
 go. This fellow Rachmanof and the others will 
 tell all the world that I was here. I should soon 
 be chased out.' 
 
 ' If I know mankind, they will say nothing of 
 this day's work. What, three men to one, and the 
 beaten three to brag of it ? Fear not, there will 
 be silence.' 
 
 f And what of Vera ? Do you know these 
 men, Vera ? Would they have recognised 
 you ? ' 
 
 * I know not who the two Streltsi were. As 
 for Rachmanof, he would know me, but he was 
 dazed or unconscious, and I think he did not see 
 or recognise me.' 
 
 * At any rate, I will go,' I determined ; * for 
 who knows what these fellows will do or say ? 
 Better that I should be free to act how I will 
 from without.' 
 
 With the words I tried to stand upon my 
 feet ; but a mist came before my eyes, my head 
 swam, and I fell back fainting. And there on my 
 back I lay for a week, almost senseless for the 
 first half of it, but quickly recovering throughout 
 the last four days. 
 
 During my weakness several things happened 
 that I knew nothing of until afterwards. The
 
 MAZEPPA 189 
 
 ante-room in which I lay was kept locked on 
 the outside, and the key remained in the good 
 mother's possession, so that no visitors were 
 allowed to enter the chamber occupied by me. 
 
 But visitors there were, and important ones, 
 as I must now describe.
 
 190 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 IT appeared that Vera was recognised, and that one 
 of the Streltsi officers spoke of having seen her at 
 the Dievitchy monastery, though he said nothing 
 of me or of the fight on the stairs and his own 
 discomfiture. The report quickly reached the 
 ears of the Boyar Kurbatof, who came in person 
 and was received haughtily by the Mother 
 Superior. 
 
 ' I have come for my daughter, who is detained 
 by you without permission,' said the Boyar. 
 
 f This house is a privileged sanctuary,' replied 
 the good mother. ' No man, not even a father, 
 may exercise authority over those maidens who 
 have espoused the service of Christ, renouncing the 
 world and its vanities.' 
 
 < But Vera has not done so. I am told that 
 her hair is not yet shorn ; she has taken no vows ; 
 therefore I demand her instant release.' 
 
 'And I refuse it,' said the brave mother. 
 
 * I will tell you, reverend mother, why I 
 demand the wench,' said the Boyar, changing his
 
 MAZEPPA 191 
 
 attitude. ' You, in your seclusion here, know 
 little of what passes without. The Tsar Ivan 
 chooses a bride, according to the customs and 
 privileges of the Russian Tsars. Now, rfty 
 daughter is virtually already chosen Tsaritsa, if 
 only she choose to accept the honour. Think 
 how great a position is this offered to her. Think 
 only what this means, to be Tsaritsa. What 
 power, what wealth shall be hers ; how magnifi- 
 cently will she be able to reward those who have 
 benefited her ; how for instance she may 
 favour this establishment and its head, multiply- 
 ing your privileges and loading you with riches 
 and every kind of favour.' 
 
 * We are content as we are, Boyar, and we 
 do not desire such worldly advancement as you 
 describe. Touching this matter of the bride- 
 choosing, the maiden would sooner die than be 
 married against her will to the afflicted and 
 unfortunate creature who, though less than a 
 man, is nevertheless called Tsar of Russia.' 
 
 * It is well that foolish maidens do not have 
 the making of their own destiny : such things are 
 left to those who have wisdom and experience.' 
 
 * In this case a good choice has been made 
 and cannot be unmade by force or authority. 
 Therefore return, Boyar, whence you came ; for 
 be sure you shall not find Vera.'
 
 192 MAZEPPA 
 
 The Boyar, finding that he could make no 
 impression upon the mother by entreaty and the 
 promise of great rewards, next had recourse to 
 violence, threatening the wrath of the Regent 
 to whom he would now, he said, carry this 
 matter and I know not what besides. But he 
 gained no more by threats than he had profited 
 by promises, and in the end the Boyar returned 
 without his daughter. 
 
 But on the second day a worse thing happened 
 than the visit of an angry Boyar. 
 
 For the Regent Sophia arrived in person, 
 bringing with her a bishop of high degree and a 
 guard of several soldiers. 
 
 o 
 
 Kurbatof had, it appeared, actually carried 
 out his threat and had complained at Court that 
 his daughter Vera, the destined bride of the Tsar, 
 was a prisoner at the DieVitchy monastery. The 
 Regent came in anger and indignation. 
 
 'What is this ?' she cried, storming at the 
 good mother. c What is this I hear of thee ? 
 To give sanctuary to one whom the Tsar would 
 choose for his wife, and against the will of her 
 father ? Thou takest too much upon thee, 
 woman. Art thou so great, being chief among 
 many silly women, that thou knowest not there 
 are some greater than thou ? ' 
 
 'All this I know and recognise, Highness,'
 
 MAZEPPA 193 
 
 said the old woman, humbly. * Outside these 
 walls thy brother the Tsar, together with thyself, 
 is as God ; but within we render the first service 
 to God and His Christ, even though His will 
 should be in opposition to that of the Tsar.' 
 
 ' Vzdor^ nonsense ! What knowest thou of 
 the mind of God ? thou knowest it no more 
 than I. A silly maiden is fearful of the splendid 
 destiny offered her, and thou must needs set 
 down her timidity to the will of God. Be sure 
 it is better to obey the will of the Tsar, of which 
 you may be certain, than invent for thyself the 
 interventions of the Almighty, whose mind thou 
 understandest no more than I. Come, where is 
 this wench ? ' 
 
 1 She has claimed sanctuary, Highness. I will 
 not produce her except I be compelled by force.' 
 
 * So then take her keys, men : you are a 
 fool, woman, and should know when it is wiser 
 to yield than to be firm ! ' 
 
 * While I am head in this place the only 
 wisdom is to act according to my conscience, since 
 my simple desire is to serve God. You will not 
 gain, Madam, by using me thus. I foresee the 
 day when you yourself shall flee for refuge to 
 this sanctuary.' 
 
 < Indeed ? Well, I will tell thee what I 
 foresee, and the prophecy shall not be long in
 
 i 9 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 the fulfilling. Thy rule shall end this day nay, 
 it has ended now ; have you the keys there ? 
 Open the great door, then ; follow, you ; we shall 
 set in your place a wiser, if we can find one in 
 this community of lack-wits ! ' 
 
 The procession then entered the monastery, 
 where they found nuns and postulants at their 
 dinner in the refectory, and among them Vera, 
 who had expected no such visitors, or she would 
 have hidden herself. 
 
 4 There she sits,' said the Regent, kindly 
 enough. f Come, little frightened dove, that 
 flew from the nest for fear of fowlers. Look not 
 so frightened, we are neither fowlers nor birds of 
 prey ; we wish thee no evil, but great good. 
 Come, the Tsar awaits thee and will choose thee 
 for Tsaritsa if thou put not on that scared 
 look ! ' 
 
 Poor Vera glanced at the Superior, who 
 followed behind her Highness, but the old 
 woman shook her head ; tears were in her eyes, 
 and she sobbed as she said, ' Nay, child, I can do 
 no more for thee ; they have broken into this 
 House of Peace. I am no longer in authority 
 here.' 
 
 * Mind not what this hag says,' said Sophia. 
 * She has forgotten that she is no less a subject 
 of the Tsar than any other in the land who
 
 MAZEPPA 195 
 
 would also serve the Almighty ; she has given 
 thee evil counsel, but she shall lead no others 
 astray. Come I weary of talking get thee 
 ready, for thou shalt go with us to the Tsar.' . 
 
 * Madam,' said Vera faintly, 1 1 desire to re- 
 main here. I have no wish to ' 
 
 * Enough take her up, men ' 
 
 And Vera was then and there seized and borne 
 shrieking away to the terem, where many notable 
 things happened, which shall presently be set down. 
 But before she departed from the monastery the 
 Regent chose a new Superior, recognising one 
 among the nuns whom she had known well before- 
 time. Her she placed in the old mother's seat, 
 compelling the latter to take up a position at the 
 bottom of the table, whereat sat humbly the non- 
 professed sisters and the postulants of the com- 
 munity, as though she had only that day entered 
 upon the religious life the latest of all those 
 present, instead of the first and the most respected 
 and beloved. 
 
 And I lay senseless as a log while all this 
 passed, little knowing or guessing the perils which 
 compassed me about. For what if the Regent 
 had sought Vera, first, in the little locked ante- 
 room wherein I lay, and had there found me a 
 hawk in this doves' nest ! But by the mercy of 
 the Highest and the wit of that good woman, the 
 
 02
 
 196 MAZEPPA 
 
 mother, I was spared this misfortune. For I was 
 afterwards told that when one of the Regent's 
 men inquired of the Superior what room was 
 this, and whether the escaped maiden were here, 
 the mother replied that this was the hospital room. 
 1 1 swear she is not there,' she said, c and it is 
 useless to disturb those who are within the 
 chamber ; they are sick, and need repose.' 
 
 Be sure that when I returned to conscious- 
 ness and learned all these things I could lie no 
 longer in peace. Very quickly my wounds 
 mended for they were but flesh-cuts, and my 
 banged head was the worst matter of all ! and 
 within a week of the fight I insisted upon going 
 forth once again, which I did in spite of the tears 
 and entreaties of my good old friend, the late 
 Superior, and of another who had nursed me. 
 
 1 Let me go,' I said, ' for I shall recover the 
 sooner when my mind is at ease and I can see and 
 hear for myself what is passing without.' 
 
 * Promise thou wilt get into no more brawls 
 until thou art well and wholly recovered ? ' said 
 the mother. And this I promised, leaving the 
 good woman, however, in tears of distress. * For, 
 said she, * thou art pale and worn and not fit for 
 fighting and for scheming, and yet how else is 
 Vera to be served ? '
 
 MAZEPPA 197 
 
 ' Dost think I shall attack the Tsar's palace 
 single-handed, good mother ? ' I asked, laughing. 
 But she shook her head and answered nothing, 
 except to make over me the sign of the Cross and 
 to mumble a prayer as I left the chamber.
 
 198 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 THOUGH 1 had laughed to ease the mind of the 
 good woman, I felt indeed but little disposed for 
 mirth. My mind was full of Vera, for I had a 
 horrible dread that she would be forced against 
 her will to submit to marriage with the Tsar. I 
 hastened therefore to Mazeppa's lodging, for well 
 I knew that if there was anything to know, 
 whether of Vera or of anything else, Mazeppa 
 would be the one to know the first news and the 
 last. 
 
 * A ghost ! ' he said, as I entered and greeted 
 him ; * one risen from the tomb indeed, and limp- 
 ing, by the saints what, wounded ? Whom 
 now hast thou found to brawl with ? ' 
 
 * It is true that I have fought : one day I will 
 tell thee all there is to tell. To-day thou must 
 be narrator, for I long to hear news. First, what 
 has passed at the terem ? ' 
 
 ( Much, and many surprising things. Has 
 Olga Panief found thee yet ? ' 
 
 'Olga? surely not why seeks she me is 
 she not in the terem r '
 
 MAZEPPA 199 
 
 * That is a part of what has happened, but 
 there is much else. Vera Kurbatof ' 
 
 * Oh, she is found ? ' I asked, feigning in- 
 difference, but failing utterly. 
 
 * At the DieVitchy monastery, and brought to 
 the terem^ where she was placed among those 
 who had been reserved for the Tsar's final choice 
 six of them. But stay, I remember now that all 
 this must be news to thee. How long hast thou 
 been absent wounded a week ? Then there is 
 much to be told, and I will tell from the 
 beginning.' 
 
 Then Mazeppa began and told me the tale of 
 that eventful week. 
 
 The Tsar having shown himself unwilling to 
 go among so large a company of maidens, it had 
 been decided to weed out the greater number, 
 and to leave only those whose supreme beauty 
 gave them particular claim to the Tsar's regard. 
 Among these chosen six were the girl Soltikof, 
 whom I had brought to the palace with a message 
 from young Peter. I was not surprised that she 
 should have been chosen to be among the 
 selected, for indeed she was both beautiful and 
 vivacious, a maiden who might wring admiration 
 from a very stone. My chosen love of former 
 days, the Cossack maiden Olga Panief, was 
 another of the six, the remaining four being no
 
 200 MAZEPPA 
 
 less beautiful maidens, each in her own way, 
 though their names are not necessary to these 
 records. To these six was added Vera Kurbatof, 
 found and brought to the terem in the nick of 
 time. 
 
 The seven were then paraded before the Tsar, 
 who on the first occasion was sulky, or timid, or 
 what not, and refused to raise his head to look at 
 them, declaring that he would not marry ; that 
 they had assembled these wenches in vain for him. 
 * Let them go,' he said. < Let who will have 
 them ; I want none of them.' 
 
 Then the seven were returned to the terem, 
 and for that day the farce was over. But in the 
 night, when all slept or were supposed to sleep 
 in the dormitory set apart for them, the Regent, 
 with the Tsar at her side, passed among the beds 
 and examined carefully each sleeper's face and any 
 part of the beautiful forms or limbs which might 
 have escaped by accident or design from the 
 coverings. It was known well enough that it was 
 customary for the bridegroom Tsar thus to feast 
 his eyes, before finally choosing his bride, upon 
 the most beautiful of his maidens, rendered un- 
 conscious of his presence by sleep. Therefore, if 
 one were proud of a beautiful arm or neck, she 
 was careful to fall asleep with this exposed to 
 view, that the Tsar might observe and admire.
 
 MAZEPPA 201 
 
 Vera had cried herself to sleep, and lay 
 supremely beautiful with the tears still upon her 
 cheek. The Tsar flushed as he glanced at her. 
 * She hates and fears me,' he said, pointing at her 
 with his chin, ' and therefore I fear her also.' 
 
 But when he came to the bed on which the 
 Soltikof maiden lay modestly covered, the flush 
 of sleep upon her beautiful cheek, his breath 
 came and went. 
 
 * Holy Mother ! ' he exclaimed, ' here is one 
 I have not seen. What is her name ? ' 
 
 The Regent named the girl, thanking her 
 saints that Ivan seemed at last to take an interest 
 in one, at least, of the lovely models of woman- 
 hood wasted upon him. 
 
 * This one is well enough,' said Ivan, passing 
 on, * if she too does not hate me, like that other ! * 
 
 The nightly inspection was not the only 
 trial through which these chosen seven were 
 compelled to pass. They were constantly ques- 
 tioned and examined by the Court doctors and 
 dentists and by experienced women appointed for 
 the purpose. 
 
 Besides this, one of the seven, being constantly 
 among the rest and taking part in all conversa- 
 tions, was instructed to act as spy upon her 
 companions, in order that their minds might be 
 studied by those with whom lay the choice of
 
 202 MAZEPPA 
 
 Tsaritsa, as well as their bodily constitutions. 
 This maiden, by name Maria Apraxin, reported 
 all opinions uttered by the rest, and all conversa- 
 tion bearing upon the subject of the afflicted Tsar 
 and his intended marriage. 
 
 In consequence of these reports three fair 
 maids who had laughed at the Tsar when alone 
 with their companions, suspecting nothing, were 
 informed next day that their chance was gone, 
 and the terem doors were open to them to pass 
 out. There remained now only Olga Panief the 
 Cossack girl, Vera, and the Soltikof maiden, 
 besides the spy, who was no longer a candidate, 
 but only the agent set to watch and observe the 
 others. 
 
 Vera never spoke, or scarcely ever. She sat 
 and mused and sometimes wept, but took little 
 part in conversations. It was Olga and the 
 Soltikof maiden who did the bulk of the talking, 
 though the spy Maria Apraxin began most of the 
 discussions. 
 
 Then one day the Tsar passed through the 
 terem ; it was the morning after his first sight 
 of the sleeping maidens. There were now but 
 these four present. He strode past Maria with- 
 out raising his eyes above her feet. He passed 
 Olga Panief with but a glance. Then he came 
 to Vera, and paused a moment as though he
 
 MAZEPPA 203 
 
 would speak ; but Vera did not raise the lids 
 which concealed her lovely blue eyes, and the 
 Tsar walked on. 
 
 Lastly he reached the place where the Soltikof 
 stood and blushed, waiting for him with every 
 artful trick and captivating air ready, so to say, to 
 hand to be employed in the fascination of the 
 Tsar. 
 
 Ivan paused and looked at her with admira- 
 tion, and Praskovia Soltikof returned the look with 
 tenfold intensity. She smiled and blushed and 
 glanced from under her up-curled eyelashes. She 
 knelt, and would have kissed his hand, but he 
 drew it back. Then she took up the edge of his 
 kaftan and kissed that instead. 
 
 'By the saints,' said Ivan, * you are as fair as 
 any, unless it be Vera Kurbatof, who is afraid of 
 me and hates me.' 
 
 * Hates you, Tsar ? Oh ! how can anyone do 
 so?' 
 
 * Yet she does, though I have never done her 
 ill, nor would do so. What is your name ? ' 
 
 * Praskovia Soltikof, Highness. I have come 
 all the way from Siberia to give the Tsar of my 
 best.' 
 
 ' Of your best ? and what is that ? ' said Ivan. 
 
 * My heart, Tsar, my love, my duty and 
 devotion all that I have and am myself.'
 
 204 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Good ! But you would be afraid of me, like 
 this other.' 
 
 ' I swear I would not, Tsar.' 
 
 ' Well, see here, Praskovia Soltikof : ask this 
 Vera whether she cannot change her mind towards 
 me, and if she cannot or will not, I know not but 
 what I will choose thee, since my sister will have 
 me married whether I desire it or no.' 
 
 Praskovia's face underwent several changes 
 during this speech : the expression which remained 
 the last upon it was one of triumphant happiness. 
 
 c Oh ! Tsar,' she said, most intensely ; * I am 
 not worthy ! ' But Ivan passed on and said no 
 more, and when he had gone out of sight and 
 hearing a storm arose. 
 
 For Olga Panief, whose temper was never of 
 the best, flew out and called upon Vera to speak 
 up and save the Tsar and the nation from having 
 this Praskovia Soltikof for Tsaritsa. 
 
 * She is a toady and a liar,' cried Olga. ' Did 
 you see her blush and cast down her eyes when he 
 spoke to her ? Did you hear her vow she would 
 love him and honour him, and I know not what 
 besides ? Faugh it sickens me to hear her ! 
 Speak, Vera Kurbatof, and save us all from her : 
 it is you the Tsar would have, all the world 
 knows that ; it is you he loves, not this toadying, 
 fawning thing ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 205 
 
 * Listen to her ! ' laughed Praskovia. * Poor 
 Olga, all her arts have failed, therefore she cannot 
 tolerate those of others ! Liar, am I ? What of 
 you, you hypocrite, who are ready to vow devo- 
 tion to the Tsar if he would but look at you 
 why, you have owned as much ! and yet in the 
 next breath you declared that if you should be 
 chosen you would marry the sceptre, not the man ; 
 and that if you had a lover before, your marriage 
 should make no difference, for he should be lover 
 still ! ' 
 
 ' You lie, minx,' said Olga. ' Speak up, Vera, 
 to-morrow, and give her the lie ; save the Tsar 
 from her ; he will believe what you say.' 
 
 * Let anyone have the Tsar so long as it is not 
 I,' said Vera, * though it seems to me that each of 
 you is as bad as the other, for neither is honest : 
 you do not love the Tsar, yet you would have 
 him believe that he is adored by you ! A sorry 
 wife you would make, either of you ! ' 
 
 * Will you not change your mind as to the 
 Tsar, Vera ? ' said Praskovia, laughing. * Remem- 
 ber, he has bidden me ask you this ; the choice 
 lies between you and me, for the Tsar will not 
 look at Maria Apraxin ; and as for Olga Panief, 
 neither he nor any other man would waste a glance 
 at so sorry a face as hers ! ' 
 
 At this Olga uttered a scream of rage, and,
 
 206 MAZEPPA 
 
 rushing at her enemy, seized her hand and bit it 
 furiously. 
 
 Praskovia cried aloud with the pain, and the 
 blood flowed freely, but Vera tied her handker- 
 chief about the wound and comforted the aggrieved 
 one. f At any rate, thou art as good as chosen,' 
 she said, * for thou shalt tell the Tsar that I will 
 neither love him nor consent to marry him ; 
 therefore thou art Tsaritsa already, if thou wilt 
 have it so ! ' 
 
 A speech which caused Olga, fuming and 
 panting in her chair, to curse aloud both at Vera 
 and at Praskovia, though she made no more 
 violent attacks upon them.
 
 MAZEPPA 207 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 IT seems that the Regent Sophia, whom, indeed, 
 some have pronounced to be a wonderful woman 
 for her ability in the management of affairs both 
 great and little though for my part I give all 
 the credit to Galitsin, who was for ever at her 
 right hand to advise, restrain, and even to speak 
 for her when her Highness lacked words it 
 seems that Sophia had so far impressed her will 
 upon the Tsar Ivan that he was now willing to be 
 married. 
 
 How she performed this magician's trick 1 am 
 not able to guess ; neither can I say whether any 
 of the ordinary spirit of a man had begun to stir 
 in that poor creature at sight of all the womanly 
 beauty which had been placed before him during 
 those last few days. 
 
 It may be that somewhere within him there 
 lurked the unmatured embryo of a man's nature, 
 which had at this time quickened into a kind of 
 half-life, so that he at last consented to gaze with 
 interest upon those fair maidens, and to accept
 
 208 MAZEPPA 
 
 the idea of matrimony without anger and loath- 
 ing. 
 
 1 do not doubt that if Vera had not, in her 
 wisdom, turned from him with disgust, but had 
 feigned admiration for him, and even love, 
 as some of the others did, she could have 
 awakened in him a kind of mild love-ardour 
 which would have been a nearer approach to a 
 man's passion for a woman than any that her 
 sisters awakened in him ; yet it is certain that he 
 accepted Vera's attitude towards him with resig- 
 nation and turned from her to seek his bride 
 elsewhere without any great show of indignation 
 or of regret. 
 
 The morning after Olga's quarrel with 
 Praskovia Soltikof was practically the deciding 
 hour in the matter of Ivan's choice of a bride, 
 and doubtless that quarrel had something to do 
 with the result, though for my part I am per- 
 suaded that Vera not being reckoned as avail- 
 able he would in any case have chosen as he 
 did. 
 
 There entered the terem that morning a little 
 procession ot three the Regent, the Tsar Ivan, 
 and Galitsin. 
 
 Maria Apraxin was passed without a glance 
 by the Tsar and by Sophia, but Galitsin stopped 
 and spoke with her. It was his duty to receive
 
 MAZEPPA 209 
 
 her report, and this day I doubt not she had an 
 interesting one to give. 
 
 Meanwhile the Tsar was passing Olga Panief, 
 but Sophia drew him back. 
 
 ' Glance at this one, Golubchick, she said ; 
 * she is one you have never well examined, yet 
 she is as beautiful as any, and has the very 
 appearance of a Tsaritsa.' 
 
 Ivan glanced at her. * She frightens me,' he 
 said ; ' she has a cruel eye I like her not. I 
 would rather she were not here.' 
 
 ' Here is the minx, Vera Kurbatof,' said the 
 Regent, smiling nevertheless kindly upon Vera, 
 and shaking her finger at her ; * she who shrinks 
 from us, Ivan. Dost know why she has done this ? 
 Because she knows that a bride is the more 
 valued the more difficult has been her wooing and 
 her winning. Doubt not she pines for thee, 
 Goltibchick ; she longs to be Tsaritsa and to sit 
 beside thee in the highest seat.' 
 
 Vera said not a word, but stood with her eyes 
 upon the floor at her feet. 
 
 * Is it so, Vera ? ' said the Tsar. f Speak 
 truth and fear not. I would rather choose thee 
 than all the rest, but to me it seems that thou art 
 not willing, thou art afraid of me. When I 
 touched thee thy head swam and thy knees 
 failed ; was it not so ? ' 
 
 p
 
 2io MAZEPPA 
 
 f It is true, Tsar,' said Vera ; f I fear thee.' 
 
 < And why ? ' 
 
 ' God knows ! I shall always fear thee, and I 
 can never love thee ; believe that I am speaking 
 truth.' 
 
 * I do believe ' began the Tsar ; but 
 
 Sophia interrupted him. 
 
 * See, Vera,' she said, * it is possible that in 
 knowing the Tsar better and seeing him oftener, 
 this feeling of thine may change for a gentler one. 
 He is kind of heart, believe me, and will make a 
 more indulgent husband than many a man to 
 whom God has given better health and a hand- 
 somer face. Ivan loves you the best of all can 
 you not see it ? Come, smile upon him, child, 
 and give him thy hand, and by all the saints or 
 Heaven thou shalt be Tsaritsa in a month, and as 
 fair and as happy a one as ever sat beside a Tsar 
 upon the highest seat.' 
 
 4 Madam, do not entreat me,' said poor Vera. 
 * It is the truth that I am afraid of the Tsar ; I 
 could not sit beside him. If I were not afraid 
 to death of him I should not have hid myself 
 from him. Do not press me Tsar, on my knee, 
 I beseech thee. I should be a sorry Tsaritsa that 
 feared the touch and the very sight of thee. Let 
 me go my way ; there are those here who long 
 for thee to exalt them to thy side.'
 
 MAZEPPA 211 
 
 * Bah ! ' said the Regent, tugging at his arm ; 
 * leave her then, Gohibchick, if she insists upon 
 being a fool. If she truly fears thee she will hate 
 thee if we marry thee to her ; let her go, fool 
 and minx that she is.' 
 
 The Tsar obeyed. He followed his sister, 
 though he turned and gazed at Vera once more 
 as he went. 
 
 Then they came to where Praskovia Soltikof 
 stood and waited for them, all blushes, and her 
 splendid eyes ablaze as they sent a speaking 
 glance at the Tsar before screening themselves 
 beneath her marvellous black lashes, long and 
 arched, and lying now upon her cheeks like two 
 lovely fringes of delicate feathered lacework. 
 
 Ivan stopped suddenly as his eyes fell upon 
 this picture. He half turned towards Vera as 
 though he would compare the two ; but the 
 figure of Praskovia seemed to have captured his 
 gaze, and his eyes remained fixed upon her. 
 
 * Holy Mother ! there stands a Tsaritsa 
 indeed ! ' exclaimed Galitsin. * See, Sophia, such 
 loveliness is surely peerless ! ' 
 
 * Yes, but ' began the Regent, and drew 
 
 Galitsin aside so that Maria Apraxin (from 
 whom Mazeppa received all that has been told of 
 this scene) could not hear what they said. If one 
 may guess, it is probable that Sophia would much 
 
 P2
 
 212 MAZEPPA 
 
 have preferred Vera for Tsaritsa, partly because 
 the Tsar seemed more attracted by her than by 
 the rest, but chiefly because she fancied that Vera 
 Tsaritsa would be more easily managed than 
 Praskovia Tsaritsa ; for the Regent Sophia did not 
 intend to see the power go from her own hands, 
 and the wife of Ivan should be one who would 
 consent to take the second place in the realm. 
 
 But Galitsin had ever the ruling word of 
 these two, and doubtless he persuaded the 
 Regent that matters must go forward now as 
 Ivan would, having gone thus far, and that since 
 Vera was obstinately determined against marriage 
 with him, and he seemed to have accepted her 
 refusal with resignation, the better way now was 
 to encourage him in his obvious admiration for 
 Praskovia. Therefore the two soon returned to 
 the spot where Ivan still stood and gazed, speech- 
 less, at Praskovia Soltikof, from whose figure he 
 had not once withdrawn his eyes during these 
 moments of waiting. 
 
 * See, her hand is bound up as though it were 
 hurt,' said the Tsar as they joined him. * What 
 ails her, think you, sister ? ' 
 
 < Ask her, Gohibchick, for yourself. She is not 
 an image of wax, she is warm flesh and blood, 
 made for love and for caresses ; ask her, my 
 dove ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 213 
 
 * What ails thee ? ' stammered Ivan, blushing 
 to the roots of his hair. 
 
 * It is nothing, Tsar,' said Praskovia, glancing 
 at Olga and attempting to hide her hand. 
 
 Here Maria Apraxin stepped forward. 
 
 * There is a dog in the terem that bites, 
 Highness,' she laughed ; l poor Praskovia has 
 been bitten.' 
 
 * A dog ? ' exclaimed Ivan, recoiling * a dog 
 that bites he may be mad, sister, let us depart ! ' 
 
 * A dog on two legs was this, Tsar,' said 
 Maria ; ( one who is called Olga Panief.' 
 
 4 What mean you, Maria ? ' asked Sophia 
 sternly. * Do you say her hand is bitten, and by 
 this Cossack minx ? ' 
 
 * So it was, Highness. There was a quarrel, 
 which Olga began and ended, began with insult 
 and ended with biting.' 
 
 * Fie, Panief ! ' cried the Regent. * Go forth } 
 minx, we will have no biters here. Was thy 
 mother a wolf, that thou must tear thy com- 
 panions with tooth and claw ? Shame, wench 
 go forth, I say ! ' 
 
 4 Drive her away quickly, Galitsin, I am afraid 
 of her,' said Ivan whimpering. * Who can tell ? 
 she may turn and bite us all ; let her go quickly 
 and return no more ! ' 
 
 Olga left the terem in tears, but she turned
 
 2i 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 at the door and shook her fist at Praskovia and at 
 Maria, neither of whom took any further notice 
 of her. 
 
 Then the Regent raised Praskovia's wounded 
 hand and looked at it. 
 
 ' See the poor wounded hand ! ' she said. 
 * See, Ivan, where the cruel teeth went in ! 
 How shall we cure it for her ? ' 
 
 ' Kiss it with thy lips, Ivan Alexeyevitch ! ' 
 cried Galitsin with a laugh. 1 1 warrant that will 
 heal the wound better than all the herbs and 
 medicines the leech can give her ! ' 
 
 4 Yes, kiss it, Goltibchick ! ' said Sophia. 
 
 And the Tsar obediently, though shyly withal, 
 took the wounded hand and kissed it. 
 
 * Oh, Tsar, I am not worthy ! ' exclaimed 
 Praskovia, sinking on her knees and catching at 
 the edge of his kaftan to raise it to her lips. 
 
 But when the Regent bade Ivan kiss Pras- 
 kovia's forehead and tell her she was the most 
 beautiful of all his maidens, the Tsar's eyes were 
 fixed upon Vera and this is not to be wondered 
 at, for indeed at this moment she looked so 
 radiantly lovely in the light, I suppose, of happi- 
 ness secured that those who observed her declared 
 they never saw so much beauty in any face as in 
 hers at this moment.
 
 MAZEPPA 215 
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 THOUGH Vera was not actually released from the 
 terem for two days after this, there was little talk 
 of any Tsaritsa but Praskovia Soltikof. 
 
 The Tsar, though in his foolish, weak way he 
 seemed to regret Vera, grew it is said hourly 
 fonder of Praskovia, and by degrees he began to 
 show something of the spirit of a man towards 
 her. This circumstance gave the greatest delight 
 to Sophia, who, said Mazeppa, made no secret of 
 it that she had not expected such good fortune. 
 
 * There is the succession to think of,' she 
 explained ; * for you will understand that it would 
 please us better if Ivan should provide an heir 
 rather than that we should depend for succession 
 upon such brats as the young scapegrace at Preo- 
 brajensky may raise to himself.' 
 
 When Vera was at last allowed to go forth 
 from the terem she went straight back to the 
 Dievitchy monastery, but was not received by 
 the new Superior, who declared that she feared 
 the anger of the Regent ; therefore she was
 
 216 MAZEPPA 
 
 obliged to return to her father's house, where she 
 incurred the rage of the old Boyar, who, disap- 
 pointed of his hopes in her, did not receive her 
 with the kindness of a parent, but rather with 
 the fury of a madman. 
 
 But Vera cared little for his rage, seeing that 
 she had escaped the great danger she had feared, 
 and which indeed had at one moment threatened 
 to swamp for ever her happiness. 
 
 { And there,' said Mazeppa, ending his tale, 
 * she is now, thanking God daily for her escape ; 
 and Praskovia Soltikof is the chosen Tsaritsa, 
 announced to the people and accepted by the 
 Tsar, who if I mistake not will sometimes 
 wish that he had chosen as his poor heart first 
 dictated ; for if one thing is more certain than 
 another in this world, it is that his fancy such 
 as it is went out to Vera rather than to her who 
 is to be his wife ! ' 
 
 When Mazeppa had finished his tale, I took 
 my leave of him, and, going straight to the 
 Uspensky Cathedral, offered a candle at the shrine 
 of the Blessed Mother of the Lord for the mercy 
 vouchsafed to Vera, and, through her, to me. 
 And on that same day I received a visitor whom 
 I certainly did not expect to see : Olga Panief. 
 
 This girl, be it remembered, had treated me 
 very badly. Before my absence upon the Azof
 
 MAZEPPA 217 
 
 campaign she had professed faithful love for me ; 
 yet when I returned I found that she had thrown 
 me over for the chance of being chosen by the 
 Tsar Ivan. This I might have forgiven, seeing 
 that for an ambitious girl the Tsar's choice is not 
 an opportunity to be lightly put aside. But she 
 had made love with Mazeppa during my absence, 
 upon his own showing, and though she had 
 thrown him over no less than myself, this was 
 nevertheless a crime which I was not prepared to 
 forgive. 
 
 Therefore, when I learned that Olga Panief 
 was waiting in the ante-room to see me, I quickly 
 made up my mind that if somehow I could 
 become even with her I would do so. She should 
 yet weep for her treatment of me ! 
 
 Olga greeted me cordially : we conversed, 
 and she described to me, what I knew already, 
 her nearness to being chosen Tsaritsa. 
 
 * If it had not been for the cat Soltikof,' said 
 Olga, c I should have been chosen ! Oh, the 
 cringing, lying, deceitful minx that she is ! Kill 
 her for me, Chelminsky ; let your sword or your 
 dagger bite well, straight into her heart ; or still 
 better, kill her slowly and with much suffering, 
 curse her ! I might have been Tsaritsa, but for 
 her!' 
 
 * You might also and more certainly have
 
 2i 8 MAZEPPA 
 
 been the wife of Chelminsky and saved yourself 
 all this trouble and disappointment,' said I. 
 * From all I hear, Olga Panief, you never had 
 any real chance of being chosen by the Tsar : it 
 rested between Vera Kurbatof and Praskovia 
 Soltikof, but you were never so much as con- 
 sidered by the Tsar oh ! do not look so crossly, 
 for I know what I speak of ! ' 
 
 4 It is a lie ; but for Soltikof I should have 
 been chosen. Vera Kurbatof, indeed ! Even this 
 fool of a Tsar would not marry so great a fool 
 as Vera ! ' 
 
 * Well, I admit thou art a splendid woman, 
 Olga. If my heart were of the breaking kind, 
 that would have been a deadly blow when thou 
 didst leave Batourin in my absence for the terem 
 of the Tsar, forgetting thy plighted troth to me ! ' 
 
 * What, the chance to be Tsaritsa, and abandon 
 it because of a word to thee ? Thou must think 
 me a fool indeed, Chelminsky ! ' 
 
 1 And what of certain courting with Mazeppa 
 while the lover was away ? ' 
 
 1 Bah ! Mazeppa ! to dally with Mazeppa 
 means nothing, for every woman is the same to 
 him ; all are toys, to play with and to forget in a 
 day ! Now see here, Chelminsky, kill me this 
 detestable Praskovia and I am still yours, only 
 ten times more than before. I swear I will marry
 
 MAZEPPA 219 
 
 you at once, and we will go where you please ; 
 there, I am serious.' 
 
 * And why do you want her killed ? ' I asked, 
 with difficulty restraining my laughter. 
 
 1 Because I hate her : is that reason enough ? 
 If you will have more, because she has been chosen 
 Tsaritsa over my head ; and, last reason, she is 
 my enemy she has insulted me before the 
 Regent. Is that enough for thee ? Come, thy 
 answer ?' 
 
 ( But why should I kill the girl ? ' I asked. 
 ' What harm has she ever done me ? ' 
 
 1 Have I not said that I will marry you for 
 doing me this service ? I have asked you to do 
 it because of all men I know I think you are 
 the most to be trusted, and because I believe that 
 you love me well enough to do my will, seeing 
 that the prize offered is one for which any man 
 would surely sell his soul and that is myself ! ' 
 
 * And thou wilt give thyself, then, to any man 
 who will rid thee of this enemy ? ' 
 
 ' I did not say that. I offer the prize to thee, 
 and thee only. Come, look at me well, Chel- 
 minsky am not I worth winning ? ' 
 
 f You may be that I did not deny or assert 
 anything. I have won thee once and found the 
 prize elusive. Once bitten, I am careful to avoid 
 dogs.'
 
 220 MAZEPPA 
 
 * This time I should keep my troth : I tell 
 you the other was an exceptional case. A maiden 
 invited to the bride-choosing of the Tsar is not 
 her own mistress ; she must go whether she will 
 or no. Come, Chelminsky, am I less to be loved 
 than before ? Are my eyes smaller or dimmer ? 
 Am I shorter ? Is my figure less shapely ? Am I 
 not still the kind of maiden for whom a man 
 would barter his soul ? ' 
 
 She came nearer to me and placed her face 
 close to mine, so that I could feel her breath 
 as she spoke. c Come, Chelminsky, look at me 
 well,' she said ; { am I less than I was ? ' 
 
 * I will tell thee what will surprise thee, Olga,' 
 I said. * It was none other than I that brought 
 Praskovia Soltikof to the terem to overshadow 
 thee in the Tsar's eyes. She is a dear friend of 
 mine, and thou comest to me, of all others, to 
 have her killed ! ' 
 
 * Stay does she love thee, Chelminsky ; art 
 thou her lover ? ' 
 
 * I did not say so. It may be and it may 
 not.' 
 
 1 Nay, tell me does she love thee ? Oh, if 
 she does, Chelminsky, if she does, I see a better 
 vengeance than her death ; she shall live to be 
 jealous. Thou shalt love me again, as before, and 
 marry me. Help me in this, dear Chelminsky.
 
 MAZEPPA 221 
 
 She has robbed me of the Tsar and insulted me. 
 I shall die if I am not quickly avenged. Tell me, 
 truly, does she love thee ? ' 
 
 ' I think it may well be so,' said I, for this farce 
 amused me and I would see how it should end. 
 1 For one who marries such a husband as Ivan, it 
 is no very great sin to keep a little affection for a 
 handsome lover from the old days ! ' 
 
 * Make sure of her, Chelminsky ; let her love 
 thee madly, and when she is at her maddest thou 
 shalt marry me before her eyes. I will give thee 
 my very soul to do me this service ! '
 
 222 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 I PROMISED Olga to consider this matter, and so 
 prevailed upon her to leave me. When she had 
 gone I gave vent to the laughter which I had 
 with difficulty restrained. 
 
 Here was a fury indeed ! First she would 
 have her rival killed, then tortured with jealousy, 
 and the prize for either service, herself. Now 
 during the conversation with this woman I had 
 discovered one thing for certain, namely, that I 
 cared not one jot for her fascinations ; she no 
 longer had power to move me. The only feeling 
 of which I was conscious in speaking with her was 
 a great desire to give her as sore a heart as she 
 had once given me, could I but devise a way to 
 do so. It was for this reason that I left the 
 decision as it were in doubt, as though I would 
 consider the matter ; whereas all I wished was 
 for time to see whether there was any way of 
 turning this new attitude of hers to advantage. 
 
 I was not many hours older that day when of 
 a sudden Mazeppa came raging to my lodging, 
 full of a grievance against me,
 
 MAZEPPA 223 
 
 'Thou hast played a double game, Chel- 
 minsky,' said he, looking very evilly at me. 
 ' Explain ; for 1 trusted thee and thou hast played 
 me false ! ' 
 
 * Explain, rather, thou,' I replied, laughing, 
 1 for I know not how I have offended.' 
 
 * It has come to my knowledge,' said 
 Mazeppa, ' that Vera Kurbatof was in sanctuary 
 at the Dievitchy monastery ; that she was placed 
 there by none other than thyself, and that even 
 when I set thee to find her, trusting thee, her 
 hiding place was all the while known to thee, 
 though thou didst make a show of ignorance. 
 See ! Chelminsky, a true friend should not act 
 thus.' 
 
 ' Bah ! it is nothing, Mazeppa ; you do me 
 injustice. It is true that I placed her in sanctu- 
 ary could I have done better on your behalf? 
 As for keeping silence, I was persuaded by Vera 
 to tell no living soul of her hiding place. I had 
 been dogged by some spy, remember, and this 
 though the rascal came off second best so 
 alarmed the girl that she bade me behave most 
 cautiously.' 
 
 * But you visited her there, my friend, more 
 than once, and even fought as I am informed 
 to protect her ' 
 
 1 Dear Heaven, would you not have done the
 
 224 MAZEPPA 
 
 same, man ? They came to carry her to the 
 terem> which was exactly what must at all costs 
 be avoided ! I thought to have praise and thanks 
 from you when I should have told my tale, 
 instead of which I am abused as though I had 
 committed a great crime ! Truly, Mazeppa, thou 
 art an ungrateful friend, and I am sorry I toiled 
 and bled for thy sake ! ' 
 
 Mazeppa gazed long and fixedly in my face. 
 I knew well what passed in his mind. He was 
 trying to decide whether I was fool or deceiver ; 
 whether in reality I had played a double game 
 with Vera, or a simple one as I declared. It was 
 difficult to preserve an even countenance. At 
 length I could bear it no longer, and burst into 
 laughter. 
 
 4 What ails thee this day, Mazeppa ? Why 
 dost thou gaze at me in this solemn fashion ? let 
 us have an understanding. What is in thy mind 
 concerning me ? ' 
 
 1 1 will tell thee what I have thought,' he said. 
 * I have greatly feared that throughout this matter 
 thy care for Vera Kurbatof has been more for thy 
 own sake than for mine. If it be so, Chelminsky, 
 and thou desirest this wench for thyself, beware 
 what thou dost, for by the saints I shall win in 
 the end.' 
 
 * To what purpose is all this talking,' said I, most
 
 MAZEPPA 225 
 
 innocently ; * what do I gain by befriending this 
 wench ; what is she to me ? If I have done my 
 best to save her from the terem^ this has been done 
 at thy own request.' 
 
 ' Well, I have long suspected thee. Any man 
 might well desire so fair a creature, and it has 
 seemed to me that she is more to thee than thou 
 wouldst have me think. I am determined that 
 none shall possess this maiden but I. Be sure, my 
 friend, that when Mazeppa is resolved upon any 
 matter, that matter is in the end accomplished.' 
 
 c Dear heart ! ' I exclaimed, laughing aloud, 
 * have the girl for thy own if thou canst what 
 is she to me ? Only I have done with serving 
 thee in this matter. To be treated thus, and 
 threatened, and what not, after I have toiled and 
 bled in thy cause ! This is ingratitude, Mazeppa, 
 and thy thanklessness shall serve thee ill ; for be 
 sure thou shalt need a friend to help thee before 
 Vera is thine and safely in thy hands ! ' 
 
 c Well, if I have truly wronged you, I ask 
 pardon. I am in love with the wench, and a man 
 in love is not his own master ; forgive me if I 
 have suspected you foolishly. Continue to be 
 my friend in this, I pray you. You have done 
 excellently, so far ; so well, indeed, that it is your 
 very zeal that has caused me to suspect you of 
 working for yourself and not for me. But stay, 
 
 Q
 
 226 MAZEPPA 
 
 why shall I need a friend now that she is safely 
 out of the terem ? Are there difficulties that I 
 know not of ? ' 
 
 * There is the old Boyar, her father. Failing 
 her marriage with the Tsar he has, I know, other 
 intentions for her. There is a rich and powerful 
 Boyar, their neighbour in the country, for whom 
 he intends her an old man.' 
 
 1 Good, an old man. Ha ! then the wench her- 
 self will be on our side ; we will devise a plan, 
 Chelminsky, and thou shalt help me to carry her 
 away. By the saints, it seems I have wronged 
 thee most foully ! The beauty of the girl is my 
 excuse, for truly I do not even now understand 
 how any man can know her and not love her. 
 Lord ! when I think of it, I suspect thee 
 still ! ' 
 
 4 That is for ever the way of a man when he is 
 fully in love ; he must needs suspect that all other 
 men are of the same way of thinking as himself ! 
 It is a good thing that men differ in their opinion 
 of a woman. This Vera is certainly fair enough, 
 but to my eyes there are others as fair and fairer. 
 I doubt not my old love will come back to me, 
 now that she has failed to outdo Praskovia 
 Soltikof in the regard of the Tsar. I would 
 punish her for her conduct in throwing me over, 
 but, by the saints, one must forgive her something
 
 MAZEPPA 227 
 
 for her good looks : she is as splendid as the day, 
 and that is plain truth.' 
 
 ' Olga Panief you speak of ? Yes, she is 
 splendid, and I doubt not she would return to 
 thee ; but shall I deal friendly with thee, 
 Chelminsky ? ' 
 
 ' If you will ; have I not deserved it ? ' 
 
 * I fear thy anger ; well, I will brave it for 
 thy sake. Be careful with this wench Olga, my 
 friend. Do not trust her too much. I have told 
 thee of her violence within the terem when she 
 found that the Tsar would choose Praskovia 
 before her. She is a fiend, no less. She is mad 
 with rage and the desire of vengeance. This 
 very day she has avowed her love for me, or 
 rather she has offered me her love upon con- 
 ditions ' 
 
 * Avowed her love for you ! ' I exclaimed, 
 starting to my feet, as though in fury, though in 
 truth I felt more inclined to laugh than to rage ; 
 * and you dare to tell me this, Mazeppa ? ' 
 
 1 Stay, I speak as your friend. " Kill this 
 Praskovia for me," said Olga, " and I am yours," 
 or words to that effect. I bade her depart from 
 me and not speak as a fool and a mad woman. 
 I tell you this for your advantage, that you should 
 not trust her too much.' 
 
 * Does she love you, think you, Mazeppa ? 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 MAZEPPA 
 
 Would she have come to you thus but for the 
 hope of persuading you to avenge her ? ' 
 
 Now, Mazeppa was one who forever believed 
 that every woman must of necessity fall in love 
 with him if he but raised his ringer to encourage 
 her, and it is certain that he was generally a 
 successful lover. Even at this moment, when he 
 was very desirous of my friendship and assistance, 
 he could not resist the delight of hinting that he 
 had made a conquest of Olga. 
 
 f If she loves me it matters little, for I vow 
 that she shall have no encouragement from me, 
 my friend, now that I know you still desire her. 
 I doubt not that you will win her, but, as I say, 
 trust her not too much. Now, as to Vera 
 Kurbatof, of whom you have lately seen more 
 than I, have you spoken to her of me ; is she 
 inclined, think you, to my suit ? ' 
 
 * I have scarcely spoken of you. She is aware 
 that you would have befriended her. You have 
 told me the truth as to Olga ; shall I be equally 
 frank as to Vera ?' 
 
 Mazeppa looked astonished, then somewhat 
 angry ; but he bade me speak on. 
 
 * I have been so good a friend to her and 
 served her so well/ said I, 'that it would be 
 wonderful if so gentle a maid were not grate- 
 ful '
 
 MAZEPPA 229 
 
 ( Grateful, well,' interrupted Mazeppa ; c but 
 dare not tell me there is more than gratitude. 
 By heaven, Chelminsky, if, after all, you have 
 fooled me and have sought to gain this maiden's 
 love ' 
 
 * Oh, oh ! I have sought nothing ; if she is 
 grateful and her gratitude has inclined her to be- 
 stow upon me a certain sweet friendly kindness 
 which might, I admit, one day develop into a 
 warmer regard, am 1 to blame ? I speak as a friend. 
 I have not wooed her back ; take her and win her, 
 Mazeppa, if thou wilt, and if she will also ! ' 
 
 * A pretty confession to make indeed ! ' cried 
 Mazeppa, striding angrily about the room, too 
 furious to perceive that his own admission had 
 been the very same. { By the saints, I know not 
 whether to trust thee or no ! I know not 
 whether thou art most fool or knave ! ' 
 
 Truly love had made of Mazeppa himself for 
 the time being more fool than knave ! Never 
 was this old fox less of a fox than on this day ! 
 Well, he had called me fool before the Tsar 
 Peter, assuring his Highness that I was too great 
 a fool to make a Cossack Hetman. We should 
 see who was the greater fool to-day, he or I ; for 
 indeed I had a plan in my mind to make so great 
 a fool of him that he should remember for ever- 
 more how he had miscalled me !
 
 230 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 DURING the next two days I matured the plan which 
 should give me the laugh over both of those who 
 had offended me. I am a bad forgiver, and when 
 I have a debt to pay, I like to return to the 
 lender more rather than less than I have received 
 from him. I counted up my grievances against 
 Mazeppa and against Olga Panief. Mazeppa had 
 called me fool before the Tsar Peter, and had tried 
 to set him against me. He had made love to Olgaj 
 while I believed her to be true to me, and had 
 allowed her to go to the terem all this during 
 my absence ; he had had me dogged by a spy, 
 and had lied to me ; lastly, he would have Vera 
 Kurbatof by fair means or foul a deadly griev- 
 ance in my eyes, for none should have her but I. 
 
 As for Olga's sins against me well, she had 
 flouted me at Batourin ; and now though she had 
 come to offer herself to me, she had gone first to 
 Mazeppa Lord ! there was grievance enough 
 against both ; I should have no pity. 
 
 Olga Panief came to see me again, and by her
 
 MAZEPPA 231 
 
 foolishness helped much to carry forward that 
 which I had in my mind. 
 
 She desired to know whether I had seen 
 Praskovia Soltikof the chosen Tsaritsa whether 
 she had concealed her love for me or revealed 
 it was I sure of her passion for me, and I 
 know not what foolishness besides. As for me, I 
 thought it no wrong to deceive her. I answered 
 her that there could be little doubt of Praskovia's 
 love, for, though I had seen her this day in the 
 very presence of the Regent and of the Tsar Ivan, 
 at whom she scarcely glanced, she had not hesi- 
 tated to send me more than once a splendid 
 flash from her eyes whose import was unmistak- 
 able. 
 
 This praise of her rival's eyes infuriated Olga. 
 * Fool that I was,' she cried, * I should have 
 poisoned the minx in the terem while I had the 
 chance, before she could set the Regent and the 
 Tsar against me. How easily it might have been 
 done and I never thought of it ! Now there is 
 only this way of revenge. You still love me, 
 Chelminsky come, do you not ? I am as fair as 
 I ever was is it not so ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, as fair, and fairer ; that is not to be 
 denied. You are a beautiful woman, Olga ; what 
 man could gaze upon you and his pulses not beat 
 the faster ? '
 
 232 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Well well, I am yours, if you will. I have 
 always preferred you above the rest, at Batourin or 
 elsewhere, though I have loved to live gaily and 
 to hear the flattery of men ; come, you shall have 
 me, you shall marry me here in Moscow, when 
 you will, and then you shall tell Soltikof, or, 
 better still, I shall tell her myself that I have 
 carried off her lover. Does the fool think she 
 shall have the Tsar and thee too ? ' 
 
 4 There is a difficulty, but only one,' I said, as 
 if perplexed. * I was sent for this day by the 
 Regent, not as an honoured guest, but in order to 
 be examined and threatened. Her Highness has 
 discovered in some way that it was I who con- 
 cealed Vera Kurbatof in order that she might 
 escape the bride-choosing ; for this I am in deep 
 disgrace, and under orders to leave Moscow 
 immediately.' 
 
 c Ah, never doubt it, this is not the true 
 reason, this about Vera Kurbatof ! The Regent 
 is a fox, and she has seen that Praskovia Soltikof 
 loves thee ; this is the cause of thy disgrace. Oh, 
 good, good ! ' 
 
 { Well, it may be so,' I said, adopting Olga's 
 idea, since it fitted well enough into my own 
 fiction. * At any rate, I must go or remain in 
 disguise. Therefore, if we marry we must marry
 
 MAZEPPA 233 
 
 in disguise, though, indeed, I see no particular 
 objection to that.' 
 
 * Stay, let me think. No, it matters little. 
 So it shall be. Afterwards I will go to her and 
 will bid her wish me joy of my marriage : she will 
 ask me the name of my lover, and oh ! the telling 
 her will atone for much how she will pale and 
 gasp with rage ! Well, then, so be it, dear 
 Chelminsky ; fix the hour and the place, and so it 
 shall be ! ' 
 
 So far and so good for my plan, which pro- 
 spered well. Only let Mazeppa behave as foolishly 
 as Olga, which in his present state he seemed 
 likely to do, and the matter would go smoothly 
 enough. 
 
 Mazeppa was sick with love at this time : a 
 sick fox with all his foxiness gone out of him ! 
 
 When I told Mazeppa of the rich Boyar who 
 was ready to marry Vera Kurbatof if the Tsar 
 should not choose her, I told him the truth as I 
 had heard it from Vera's own lips. She would no 
 more marry this man than the Tsar, she had said ; 
 and I had promised to help her in this as in the 
 other matter. Now I determined this trouble 
 of the Boyar should help me in my present 
 designs. I therefore visited Mazeppa, who had 
 left me yesterday in anger.
 
 234 MAZEPPA 
 
 < Mazeppa, I will not quarrel with thee, my 
 friend,' I said, * and to prove my good will, listen 
 to what I have to tell thee. Vera is in trouble 
 about this Boyar. She has asked me for help, 
 but the only way for her out of this quandary is 
 by marrying. This I told her, when I soon per- 
 ceived that if I would she would be prepared to 
 marry myself rather than stay to be mated with 
 this fat old Boyar. Then it occurred to me that 
 here was an opportunity sent by Providence itself 
 for your convenience. For since I do not desire 
 to marry the wench, while you are sick with love 
 for her, what should be simpler than that you 
 pass for me, and so carry her conveniently 
 away ? ' 
 
 4 Fool ! she would know me,' growled 
 Mazeppa ; * you speak foolishly for jest.' 
 
 'No, it is no jest, it is a good plan ; never- 
 theless, if you like it not, leave it and the girl 
 also ; what is it to me ? I am sorry I took the 
 trouble to think out so good a scheme for a lover 
 whose ardour is not equal to the trouble of carry- 
 ing it out.' 
 
 I made a show of departing, but Mazeppa 
 called me back. 
 
 * Stop,' he said ; * maybe I spoke hastily. I 
 could, of course, wear disguise ' 
 
 ' You must do that in any case, and she also.
 
 MAZEPPA 235 
 
 for safety's sake,' said I. * She is well known, 
 and might be recognised by the priest.' 
 
 ' She will hate me for deceiving her in this 
 way ; for, if what you say is true, it is you she 
 desired to wed.' 
 
 * Bah ! a woman soon forgives such things, 
 especially when the other that is I in this case 
 has deceived her. Moreover, she would not 
 marry me for love, though we are good friends ; 
 it is rather the desire to escape this fat Boyar 
 than to gain me. The wench is driven distracted, 
 first by the danger at the terem> now by this. I 
 have left the matter open in case it should please 
 you to do as I suggest, for I shall not do myself 
 as she wishes. If you agree, it is easy for me to 
 return and tell her that I have decided to marry 
 her rather than let the Boyar have her.' 
 
 Mazeppa considered awhile. 
 
 * I would rather she married me of her know- 
 ledge and free will, which no doubt I should have 
 gained with opportunity ; but, as you know, I 
 have determined to possess this woman, and if she 
 is not to be had one way, she must be secured 
 another way.' 
 
 'That is wisdom,' I said. * Do you know a 
 priest who will not ask questions, but will be 
 ready to marry a disguised pair and pocket his fee 
 without desiring to know too much ? '
 
 236 MAZEPPA 
 
 * I know the very man ! ' exclaimed Mazeppa, 
 growing obviously more in love with my plan 
 as it became more familiar to his imagination. 
 * I will go forth and settle with him at once, 
 Chelminsky ; why should we wait ? The girl 
 is in danger. I have no more business in 
 Moscow. By the saints, I will wed her to-morrow 
 and we shall travel together to the Ukraine ! 
 After all, my son, you have done well by me ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 237 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 MAZEPPA was of opinion next day that, since he 
 must be married in disguise, it would be well to 
 have a witness both on his own side and upon the 
 lady's. * And since you, naturally, will not do,' he 
 laughed, * it so happens that young Shedrine the 
 Cossack is in town and will do well for the office.' 
 Shedrine would do excellently, and since he had 
 come as the envoy of Samoilovitch, the Hetman, 
 bidding Mazeppa return quickly to his duties, 
 the marriage was opportune indeed. 
 
 * As to a witness for Vera,' said Mazeppa ; * has 
 she one, or will Olga Panief serve ? Olga has 
 not quarrelled with Vera, I believe, but with the 
 Soltikof maiden.' 
 
 With difficulty I restrained an exclamation. 
 'You have not mentioned the matter to 
 Olga ? ' I said anxiously. 
 
 * Not I there is no soul who has learned of 
 it from me.' 
 
 ' Good ! I do not think Olga will do ; she is 
 not so discreet as some, and might gabble.'
 
 238 MAZEPPA 
 
 ' Well, find whom you will, and settle your 
 time with her ; then I can tell the priest and my 
 witness, and within twenty-four hours we shall be 
 married.' 
 
 So I settled with Olga for the evening, telling 
 Mazeppa the time arranged : and so I left my two 
 innocents to their fate. 
 
 And since I had no desire to be suddenly 
 fallen upon and perhaps murdered in my sleep by 
 the enraged pair when they should have awakened 
 to the true state of affairs and the pretty jumble 
 they had made of matters, I removed myself into 
 a new lodging, nearer the house of the Boyar 
 Kurbatof ; for now that my enemies were out of 
 the way I intended to lay a more definite siege to 
 the heart of my most beautiful Vera. 
 
 Nevertheless I lay hid for two days, and when 
 I did go forth I went armed, and almost the first 
 person I met in the street was the young Cossack 
 Shedrine whom Mazeppa had suggested as witness. 
 I hoped he would pass me by without recog- 
 nition, but he saw me, and as though involuntarily 
 his hand went to his sword, but it wandered away 
 again. 
 
 ' Well, this is a pretty trick you have played,' 
 he said. * What was your object, Chelminsky, 
 may I be bold to inquire ? ' 
 
 * A matter of high politics which you are too
 
 MAZEPPA 239 
 
 young to understand, Shedrine ; therefore I will 
 not explain.' 
 
 'As* you will,' he said, 'but beware how you 
 meet Mazeppa, and still more be careful of Olga 
 Panief : she is a mad woman, my friend. It was 
 hard upon Mazeppa to marry him to a wild, 
 witless thing like Olga.' 
 
 ' Bah ! She is sane enough, but she is angry. 
 She is jealous of the Tsaritsa-elect, by whose arts 
 she imagines that she was forestalled. But tell me, 
 did the marriage pass off without interruption ? ' 
 
 ' Assuredly ; they were married. I have seen 
 many a quarrelsome pair, but save me from such 
 another married couple as this ! ' 
 
 ' Tell me, tell me, Shedrine ! ' I exclaimed. 
 4 Tell me quickly : I perish to hear all.' 
 
 ' Well, the ceremony was performed by the 
 priest, I being witness and bridegroom's attendant 
 some old frump sent by you, I believe, was her 
 witness. It seems Mazeppa believed he was 
 marrying one Vera Kurbatof, and Olga thought 
 that her disguised husband was yourself. It 
 appears also that you are the delinquent in this 
 matter from first to last : at any rate, both parties 
 cursed you well, and it is you upon whom they 
 have vowed vengeance.' 
 
 'But stay, Shedrine, you go too fast. Is 
 Mazeppa in Moscow, and is she ? Are they
 
 2 4 o MAZEPPA 
 
 together as man and wife ? Do they recognise 
 the rite performed over them ? How and when 
 did they discover the mistake ? ' 
 
 * Mazeppa is in Moscow, so is Olga : they are 
 not together, nor have been since the first half- 
 hour of marriage. They both deny the marriage, 
 which is nevertheless a marriage, and they dis- 
 covered the " mistake " as soon as they were out 
 of the church, when Olga threw off" her disguise, 
 saying that Chelminsky might wear his if he 
 chose, but for her there was no reason. Then 
 Mazeppa suddenly uttered a great curse, and, 
 tearing his own wraps from his face, glared at 
 her and she back at him. Then Olga, with a 
 yell which may have been intended for spoken 
 words, but was not so understood by me, flew at 
 her newly-won husband and struck at him so 
 fiercely that Mazeppa actually drew his sword. 
 
 < " Do not kill her, Mazeppa," cried I. " Do 
 you not see that she has been duped as well as 
 you ? " 
 
 { " Let the shrieking fool keep her distance 
 then and be quiet," he said, furious with rage, 
 " or by all the devils I will spit her as she deserves. 
 Are you mad that you have played this trick upon 
 me, you she-devil ? " he cried never was man so 
 furious " Who bade you put your pestilent self 
 in place of the other wench ? "
 
 MAZEPPA 241 
 
 * " What other wench ? " she shrieked back. 
 " It is you that shall be spitted, you cheat and 
 liar, for playing me this trick : be not deceived, 
 your sword shall not for ever protect you, 
 as now ! " 
 
 ' Then Mazeppa turned upon me. " What in 
 the devil's name does this mean, Shedrine ? " he 
 said. " How did this she-devil come here ? Is 
 it a trick of Chelminsky's ? " 
 
 ' " I know nothing," said I. " 1 have not seen 
 Chelminsky, and know not what he may have or 
 may not have to do with it." 
 
 * Then both cursed, and she shrieked, and the 
 horrors of death and judgment were heaped by 
 both upon your head ; and Olga Panief grew so 
 mad in her rage that I was obliged with Mazeppa's 
 help to gag her no easy matter, be sure : after 
 which Mazeppa procured a kibitka and had her 
 carried away, Heaven knows where. It is not for 
 me to interfere between man and wife, therefore 
 I have not been near him since ; and indeed I am 
 not anxious to meet either of them unless they 
 shall have calmed down into reasonable human 
 beings. Olga will certainly kill you if she can, 
 my friend ; and as for Mazeppa, you are rash to 
 make an enemy of him, as I thought you should 
 have known ! ' 
 
 * That is my affair, Shedrine : I am not afraid 
 
 R
 
 MAZEPPA 
 
 ofMazeppa. For the rest,! do but pay old scores 
 upon both. Thanks for the warning, however : 1 
 shall go with open eyes and cars ! 
 
 This I did for several days, but tan into no 
 
 dancer that I knew o and at the end of the 
 
 & * 
 
 third day I saw her for whose sake I fingered in 
 Moscow, and ran unknown risks for die great 
 desire to catch sight of her face and to hear her 
 
 I saw her come from the house in the charge 
 of her old nurse ; and when Vera at .the same 
 
 of me she sent the old 
 doors upon some pielcil, 
 and while she was h*f"fr my beloved took the 
 opportunity to walk with me down the street, 
 for, she said, * I have much to say.' 
 
 Then Vera told me that she was in great 
 trouble both with the old Boyar and with 
 Mazeppa, who, for the last three days, had been 
 
 in fhg house 
 
 inst that of the rich Boyar Astashof. 
 
 I nrfaimrd ' does he dare 
 
 He both dares and, I fear, he progresses 
 well with his suit. He has become very friendly 
 with my father, declaring that as Hetman of the 
 Cowarks which he vows he will be before many 
 years, or palups months, are out he wfll rank 
 bat nttk below the kings of the earth; therefore,
 
 MAZEPPA 243 
 
 says Mazeppa, he is not a suitor to be quickly 
 denied.' 
 
 *At any rate, I can prove that Mazeppa, 
 whether Hetman or braggart, is no fitting suitor 
 for thy hand, Vera,' I said, laughing, * for he is 
 married already! * 
 
 Then I told her die story of my trick upon 
 these two ; and at my manner of paying off old 
 scores Vera could not help laughing, though she 
 expressed herself alarmed on my account. 
 
 ' Both are dangerous enemies,' she said, c and 
 of a kind to hesitate at no act of vengeance, how- 
 ever terrible. For the love of Christ, Chelminsky, 
 be careful,' she ended, c how you go and how you 
 meet either.' 
 
 * If you care that I should be watchful, I wifl 
 watch,' said I ; but Vera did not reply, only 
 dropping for a moment her eyes. 
 
 ' Now I understand,' she continued presently, 
 * why Mazeppa has spoken so bitterly of you 
 during these days. Tou are forbidden the house, 
 you must know. He has informed my father that 
 it was none but you who concealed and befriended 
 me at the Dievitchy ; who even fought and bled 
 to prevent my being taken to the urtm. For 
 this my father will no longer have your name 
 spoken.* 
 
 'And meanwhile you are in danger once 
 
 R2
 
 244 MAZEPPA 
 
 again. What can I do, Vera ? How shall I help 
 you ? ' 
 
 'Tell me quickly where I may find you. 
 Here is the nyanka returning ; she must not see 
 me with you.' 
 
 I told Vera where I lodged, and we parted 
 suddenly, for the old woman came scolding up to 
 meet her. From far down the road my charmer 
 sent me a wave of the hand, and I stood and 
 cursed the old hag who had come too soon 
 between me and heaven !
 
 MAZEPPA 245 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 VERA'S news disquieted me much. To know 
 that Mazeppa was daily at her house poisoning 
 her father's mind against me was not pleasant 
 knowledge. And I was to be refused admittance ! 
 Well, I could scarcely expect the Boyar, her 
 father, to be greatly pleased with me since he had 
 learned of my conduct in taking Vera's part 
 against his commands. 
 
 As I came near my lodgings that evening 
 someone suddenly ran out from the shadow of a 
 house and made a wild swoop at me with a knife. 
 She was muffled to the eyes, but I should have 
 guessed it was Olga Panief even if she had not 
 spoken. 
 
 I easily avoided the blow, and, catching her 
 wrist, compelled her to drop the weapon. 
 
 * Now, you fury,' I said, * we are equals for 
 the jilting at Batourin. In future you will think 
 twice before treating an honest love in such 
 fashion : I loved you and meant honestly by you. 
 Will you promise that you will leave me in peace 
 henceforward ? '
 
 246 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Not 1 ; you are not fit to live, cheat and 
 liar ! I shall kill you at sight at the first 
 opportunity.' 
 
 { There may be no opportunity. I have heard 
 you say such things that if I were to report them 
 you should be knouted into your grave before you 
 were many hours older. Have you forgotten 
 bidding me slay the Tsaritsa-elect, your rival, for 
 no better reason than jealousy ? ' 
 
 * No one would believe such as you/ she 
 snapped ; * you have no proofs.' 
 
 1 You made the same proposal to Mazeppa. 
 He will be glad to witness you out of the world ; 
 as his wife you are a tie to him.' 
 
 She struggled furiously at these words, but I 
 would not let her go, and upon her knife 1 
 placed my foot for safety. 
 
 Then she began to scream like a mad woman, 
 calling me shameful and dreadful names, and 
 vowing that not only I should die, but also the 
 Tsaritsa-elect and Mazeppa, and I know not who 
 else besides. 
 
 At the noise a body of Streltsi came up, ten 
 men, to inquire what the noise meant. 
 
 Olga was subdued at sight of them, and 
 looked sullenly as they approached ; but she 
 stopped her screaming and waited.
 
 MAZEPPA 247 
 
 The leader asked me what in the fiend's name 
 was all the noise they had heard. 
 
 * It is my poor sister here,' I explained, f who 
 suffers from paroxysms of madness, of which one 
 has just passed over her.' 
 
 * Then see that she behaves quietly, or she 
 shall find there is authority in Moscow.' 
 
 Th^y withdrew laughing and talking among 
 themselves. 
 
 * I will tell them the truth next time, Olga,' I 
 said ; * I swear it ! therefore take heed what you 
 do.' 
 
 * Next time I may make a better stroke,' said 
 Olga sullenly. * I am determined that you shall 
 not live ; you are not fit, neither is Praskovia 
 Soltikof. We shall see whether they who offend 
 me shall laugh or weep ! ' 
 
 With that she withdrew and disappeared, the 
 poorer by her dagger, which I carried away with 
 me. 
 
 Afterwards I wished I had allowed the Streltsi 
 to take the fool, for, though I fear not the open 
 assault of men, it is different to know that there 
 is a mad and furious woman at large who may 
 rush out upon one at any moment. Such know- 
 ledge is apt to make a coward of a brave man. 
 
 Soon after this a message reached me from
 
 248 MAZEPPA 
 
 Vera Kurbatof. It was written, and I spelled it 
 out with difficulty, being but a moderate gramatny 
 or scholar. The message ran, ' I am in danger 
 again ; come at noon to-morrow.' 
 
 This message filled me with joy, for I longed 
 hourly to see the maiden. Never up to this day 
 had woman taken such hold upon my heart ; all 
 other loves of my life had been but surface 
 scratches, but this time I was sore wounded. I 
 was in that foolish state when there is no rest 
 except the beloved is at hand. 
 
 I went disguised ; for, since I was to be 
 denied admittance in my own name, it was use- 
 less, I thought, to attempt it or to force it. 
 Therefore I borrowed the dress of a Razndschick, 
 a fellow who carries a covered tray of cakes for 
 sale. Such dealers are admitted, I knew, into the 
 apartments of the ladies, who buy largely of their 
 wares. 
 
 I spoke with the doorkeeper, bidding him 
 obtain for me the permission of the Barishnya to 
 enter the ladies' quarter with my cakes, since she 
 and her women were old customers of mine. 
 
 The man parleyed, and there was talking and 
 arguing, and in the midst a man entered from the 
 street behind me. I took no notice, being intent 
 upon obtaining access to Vera, parleying and 
 quarrelling with the doorkeeper.
 
 MAZEPPA 249 
 
 Suddenly the new arrival placed his arms 
 tightly round my own from behind, so that 
 being both held by him and hampered by my 
 cake-tray, I could not move. 
 
 1 A Raznoschick 1 s dress does not conceal Chel- 
 minsky's voice,' said one, whose tone I recognised 
 in a moment for Mazeppa's. * I have thee, my 
 friend, at last. Go quickly, you porter, and fetch 
 others to help. Shout for them to come ! this 
 is a rascal in disguise, a cut-throat, a robber ; be 
 sure he's come for no good ! ' 
 
 With a cry of horror the doorkeeper flung 
 himself to the end of the hall, where he rang a 
 bell and shouted names. I struggled, but could 
 obtain no purchase for my efforts, which were 
 useless. 
 
 Four or five men were quickly upon the scene. 
 Mazeppa addressed them with authority. 
 
 * Take this bad character and carry him to the 
 flog-room. I will see the Boyar and obtain per- 
 mission for his knouting.' 
 
 * Do not get me knouted, Mazeppa,' I said ; 
 * take your sword, rather, and run me through ! ' 
 Then I added, recovering dignity, 'The Boyar 
 will never dare knout a free Cossack, of family 
 as good as his own, and ten times better than 
 yours ! ' 
 
 Mazeppa replied not a word ; but he bade
 
 250 MAZEPPA 
 
 the fellows tie me tight, for, said he, < He is a 
 desperate character, and the house is not safe 
 with him in it ! ' 
 
 So here was I locked up in the flog-room, and 
 with the prospect of a knouting before me : a 
 terrible and intolerable disgrace for one of my 
 rank, and Vera as far off as ever, if not more 
 hopelessly removed from me than before. 
 
 I was bound hands and feet ; if they came 
 to knout me I could make no resistance. I know 
 not exactly how long I awaited my fate ; the 
 moments crawled maggot-slow. If I were 
 knouted and survived the shame, I told myself, 
 I should never speak to Mazeppa if we met face 
 to face; I should strike out at sight; neither should 
 I take any rest until I had killed him or he me. 
 
 I suppose but a few minutes had in reality 
 passed by though the maggot-footed time 
 seemed to be the beginning of Eternity when 
 at length steps approached, and my heart stood 
 still to await my doom. 
 
 There entered Mazeppa and one other a 
 burly, middle-aged man, a wealthy Boyar by his 
 furred and jewelled kaftan Vera's father, 
 Kurbatof. 
 
 * So this is the fellow that did his best to defeat 
 my wishes by keeping Vera from the terem ? 
 Why did you this, sir ? ' said the Boyar.
 
 MAZEPPA 251 
 
 I decided to speak boldly. * Because I desired 
 her for myself, Boyar. What manner of a 
 husband would the Tsar be for such as your 
 daughter ? She should marry a man, not a 
 plaster figure ! ' 
 
 * And who in the devil's name are you, then ? ' 
 said old Kurbatof, astonished at my boldness. 
 
 * I own to as good a name as even your own 
 Chelminsky. It is one of the best of our 
 Cossack names ; not like Mazeppa's there, which 
 he picked up Heaven knows where no Cossack 
 knows it ! I am a better suitor than he, Boyar. 
 He tells you doubtless that he will be Hetman ; 
 but it is also possible that I shall be so, and not 
 he ; for I have a Tsar behind me, and he a 
 Regent. Moreover,' I added, suddenly inspired, 
 
 * Mazeppa is already married : this I can prove.' 
 
 * Oh oh ! ' exclaimed the Boyar. 
 
 * It is so,' I persisted, * even though he deny 
 it.' 
 
 Mazeppa seemed too startled and astonished 
 to speak. The Boyar looked to him for an 
 explanation. 
 
 * It is a lie, Boyar ! ' he stammered at length. 
 
 4 Bah ! ' said Kurbatof, f lying is a sin and 
 forbidden by God ; which of you is lying ? ' 
 
 'At any rate, I can bring witnesses,' said I. 
 
 * Let me go, Boyar ; I am no common fellow
 
 252 MAZEPPA 
 
 to be kept bound in a knout-room ; this is an 
 indignity.' 
 
 4 Nevertheless, you have wronged this house- 
 hold, and ought to be punished. A man of your 
 rank may not be knouted, but I will consider 
 what should be done. Do you say Mazeppa is 
 already married ? ' 
 
 * As I can easily prove.' 
 
 1 Well, I will question you again. In the 
 meantime you shall remain where you are.' 
 
 With which the Boyar left me, beckoning 
 Mazeppa after him, who I doubt not flooded 
 him with a torrent of fierce denials in contradiction 
 of my statement, so that I know not whether I 
 should soon have escaped from my prison, but 
 that the door suddenly opened, and who but Vera 
 should appear. 
 
 She beckoned me to silence ; then she removed 
 my bonds and showed me a way out of the house 
 by a side door. When we stood safely without 
 she explained that she had sent for me because 
 she greatly mistrusted Mazeppa. Her father 
 was inclined to let her marry the rich Russian 
 Boyar rather than the Cossack adventurer, and, 
 said Vera, ( if he so decides, I do not trust 
 Mazeppa.' 
 
 * What do you fear ? ' I asked. 
 
 * He will not take no for an answer. If he 
 
 S
 
 MAZEPPA 253 
 
 cannot have me by fair means, he will secure me 
 by foul.' 
 
 Exactly the words Mazeppa himself had once 
 used in speaking of his intention with regard to 
 Vera. 
 
 * Then you would have me keep a watch upon 
 him ? ' said I, and Vera begged me with brimming 
 eyes to watch her father's house as a cat listens 
 at a mouse-hole, closing never an eye.
 
 254 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 THE Kurbatof mansion lay in a suburb of the 
 city : it was a large wooden house, horse-shoe 
 shaped, like most of the houses of the richer 
 inhabitants in the outskirts of Moscow. There 
 was a gardener's room or hut at the great gate, 
 and because it would be difficult to watch Vera's 
 home from the street, since there was no house 
 opposite, and only a road deep in filth, without 
 pavement to stand upon or any place behind in 
 which to shelter oneself, I thought it better to 
 make a friend, if I could, of the gardener or his 
 wife for the whole family of brats as well as 
 their parents herded in the little hut at the gate, 
 the atmosphere of which, within doors, was 
 terrible to a Cossack nose and lungs, accustomed 
 to the fresh air and much exposure. 
 
 I therefore provided myself with pranniki for 
 the children and presented myself at the gate at 
 dusk. The good folks bowed low as to a Barin, 
 and were for opening the great gate to let me in ; 
 but I informed them, to their surprise, that I 
 only desired to see the Barishnya Vera when she
 
 MAZEPPA 255 
 
 should pass this way upon her morning walk. 
 My mission, I said, was so private that I dare 
 not go to the house to see her. ' You will find, 
 when the Barishnya sets eyes upon me, that 1 am 
 a welcome guest ! ' I added, smiling. f I desire 
 her no harm, nor yet anyone, unless it be her 
 enemies.' 
 
 The man scratched his head. 
 
 ' Are you known to the Boyar ? ' he asked. 
 
 * I am known to the Boyar,' I replied, ' and I 
 have, moreover, for those who serve me kindly 
 this ! ' 
 
 I showed a silver rouble, at which he looked 
 greedily. 
 
 * And who are these enemies the Barin speaks 
 of ? ' the man asked cautiously. * Can so beauti- 
 ful, so adorable a Barishnya have enemies ? ' 
 
 'You will see, if you allow me to abide a 
 while here, that she both has enemies and that if 
 necessary her friends as myself should be con- 
 stantly on the watch at this time, lest they do her 
 an injury.' 
 
 4 Do her an injury ? ' squealed the gardener's 
 wife with fury. * The rascals ! The villains ! 
 Would you have her enemies do our Barishnya 
 an injury, Vaiseuk ? Let this Barin do as he 
 desires, I say ; he will put her upon her guard. 
 Take the rouble and let him come in 1 ' 
 
 < Peace, Masha, fool ! * said Vaiseuk. * Well,
 
 256 MAZEPPA 
 
 give me the rouble,' he continued, holding out 
 his hand. ' The Barishnya shall see you from a 
 safe distance as she passes out, and we shall soon 
 know if you are friend or enemy ! ' 
 
 Thus I was able to take up the best of 
 positions, and old Vaiseuk was soon justified in 
 his confidence in me ; for when Vera passed out 
 and caught sight of me, she gave an exclamation 
 of such joyful surprise that he quickly found I 
 was indeed the friend I had declared myself. 
 
 'You see I am here, Vera, and here shall 
 remain until you tell me I need watch no longer,' 
 I said. * Tell my good friend Vaiseuk to let me 
 be his guest and to keep his mouth shut.' 
 
 Vera joyfully did so. ' This is my best of 
 friends,' she explained, 'who has saved me from 
 much misery already, and is now busy in my 
 service.' 
 
 ' Dooshinka, exclaimed the man's wife, ' what 
 enemies can you have ? Do not all people love 
 you ? ' 
 
 * Perhaps some whom she would rather unlove 
 her, Matushka,' I laughed. ' Some there are who 
 love her so well that they would carry her from 
 her home ! ' 
 
 ' Oh, oh ! ' said the old woman. ( Save her 
 from such, Barin, and all the saints will bless 
 you ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 257 
 
 Thus I was established in my watch tower, 
 and there for two whole days and nights I lived, 
 and a third day, and during all that time, though 
 many visitors came and went, I never saw 
 Mazeppa. 
 
 * Which means this,' thought I : * he has 
 given up hope of the fair means, and will trust to 
 the foul to effect his purpose, which of course is 
 the stealing of Vera ! ' And, sure enough, on the 
 evening of the third day I saw Mazeppa. He 
 came at dusk, and stayed but a few moments at 
 the house ; then he returned and departed as 
 stealthily as he had come. 
 
 Now I must watch indeed, thought I, for it 
 may well be he came to make his final arrange- 
 ments, having friends or a friend within who 
 will carry out his designs, whatsoever they may 
 be! 
 
 And when night fell, and the gardener and 
 his family snored in concert, I heard the rumble 
 of some kind of light dormdse or travelling 
 carriage in the road without. The horses pulled 
 up within twenty paces of the great gates and 
 there remained, impatiently pawing the mud, 
 shaking themselves, and making the usual noises 
 of waiting horses. 
 
 No man spoke, excepting occasionally to utter 
 a curse or a word when one of the animals
 
 258 MAZEPPA 
 
 became fidgety. This was not Mazeppa's voice ; 
 if he was there he remained silent. 
 
 Half an hour passed, and another half, and at 
 last I heard stealthy sounds from the direction ot 
 the house. A door was softly opened, and steps 
 came towards the gate. Then in the dim light of 
 the stars I perceived two men carrying a burden ; 
 but since neither sound nor movement came from 
 it, this could not be Vera nor any other living 
 being ; therefore, I thought, I must be mistaken 
 by a coincidence, for some thief or thieves within 
 the household have chosen this night for carrying 
 away some of the Boyar's property a matter 
 which concerns me not at all so long as it be not 
 his daughter. 
 
 I crept softly from the hut, keeping in the 
 shadow, and watched the two fellows place their 
 bundle within the carriage that awaited them. In 
 this carriage there was but one man besides the 
 driver : this fellow received their burden from the 
 other two, who then returned to the house. 
 The driver shook his reins and the horses 
 started. 
 
 A common piece of night stealing and no 
 more, and I had hoped for Heaven knows what 
 to happen something by which I might exalt 
 myself and abase Mazeppa, and at the same time 
 add another point to my credit with the fair Vera,
 
 MAZEPPA 259 
 
 with whom I must stand ever higher and higher 
 and Mazeppa lower and lower. 
 
 Then this thought suddenly occurred to me : 
 What if the fox Mazeppa should have arranged 
 this matter after some devil's way of his own 
 devising ? If this burden should, after all, be 
 Vera herself, gagged or drugged, or what not 
 and he, not desiring to run into danger himself, 
 be waiting somewhere to join the party, once the 
 danger is over ! 
 
 And now that this idea had entered my brain 
 it speedily overmastered every other thought. 
 
 Fool that I had been to be so easily gulled, 
 and faithless watchman ! Oh ! if Mazeppa had 
 bettered me and had indeed carried Vera away ! 
 
 The rumble of the carriage wheels was still 
 audible, though now at some distance away ; at 
 any rate, I might follow and note, at least, which 
 road was taken from the city ; then I could run 
 for my horse and pursue. 
 
 So off went I down the road at full run, and, 
 going as I was at full speed, I gained upon the 
 horses, as I could tell by the sound. 
 
 Suddenly the rumble ceased they had 
 stopped ; they were about, I guessed, to pick up 
 Mazeppa, who waited in safety while others 
 undertook the dangerous portion of his enter- 
 prise the fox ! If only I could overtake the 
 
 S2
 
 260 MAZEPPA 
 
 carriage before it recommenced its journey ! I 
 made desperate efforts. I rushed into the street 
 called Troitsky just in time to come close to a 
 large dormese as the wheels began to move and the 
 horses to strain at the traces. 
 
 I almost shrieked aloud in Mazeppa's name to 
 stop, but remembered in time that would be a 
 false move ; for assuredly, if he should hear me 
 call to him, he would drive the faster. 
 
 But I was in desperate straits, for my breath 
 was almost spent, and, though I followed still, I 
 felt not only that I lost ground, but that 1 must 
 soon cease to move even as rapidly as now, for 
 I was utterly exhausted.
 
 MAZEPPA 261 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 ONE of the city gates lay in this direction : that 
 which gave upon the road leading to our own home, 
 the Ukraine. I must at least make sure that 
 Mazeppa intended to take this road. That much 
 ascertained I might rest a little while, or even, 
 perhaps, return for my horse. 
 
 Meanwhile the rumble of the wheels in front 
 of me grew fainter with distance ; if it had not 
 been night time, and this the only sound audible, 
 I should have lost it long since. 
 
 Suddenly I did lose it. Either they were 
 already at the gate and had stopped to be allowed 
 to pass out by the sleepy custodian, or I had fallen 
 out of the range of earshot. 
 
 I made a last effort, using all my remaining 
 strength to cover a few hundred yards in case they 
 should be delayed at the gate, and presently I was 
 rewarded by hearing the carriage wheels once 
 more, this time much nearer. 
 
 But 1 could run no further. I staggered for- 
 ward at a walk and reached the gate ; the noise of 
 the wheels had passed out of hearing.
 
 262 MAZEPPA 
 
 A drowsy peasant in a cart drawn by a little 
 horse which walked in its sleep, according to the 
 custom of these little Finnish or Russian ponies, 
 had just passed into the city. This man sulkily 
 informed me that some Barin had just passed out 
 in his travelling carriage. To the gatekeeper he 
 had given his destination as Kief. 
 
 Then I stood and thought for a moment, and 
 as the result of my reflections I hastened home- 
 wards for my horse, old Boris, who would carry 
 me to the Ukraine at a gallop if I but shook the 
 reins and laid them upon his neck. 
 
 But my lodgings were a long way from this 
 part of the city, and it was nearly an hour before 
 I was back again at the gate and after my quarry. 
 That would matter little if I could keep upon their 
 track; but Mazeppa, being a fox, would employ 
 every device to set possible pursuers at their wit's 
 end. Therefore I concluded that whichsoever of 
 the many branching roads he might have chosen 
 for his flight it would not be the Kiefsky road, 
 since he had given that city as his destination. 
 
 Yet even in this Mazeppa showed wheels 
 within wheels of subtlety, for it proved in the end 
 that he had actually done that which anyone know- 
 ing him would suppose to be the most unlikely 
 thing of all, having selected the very road which 
 he had named. And it must be confessed that he
 
 MAZEPPA 263 
 
 thus completely outwitted me, for I spent all that 
 first night in galloping desperately down one road 
 and then another, finding no trace of the fugi- 
 tives anywhere ; and when, at morning, it was 
 necessary to give Boris a rest, I was no wiser as to 
 their whereabouts than I had been when I left the 
 gates of Moscow last night. 
 
 But Boris and I were used to hard work 
 together, and we rested but a few hours before 
 recommencing our search. Suffice to say that 
 forty-eight priceless hours had been wasted in 
 fruitless ridings forward and backward before I felt 
 sure that we were at last upon the right track. 
 
 * Now for a long and hard gallop, Boris, my 
 friend,' said I, patting his neck, and away went the 
 good horse upon a scent nearly two days old, and 
 lo ! to my surprise and delight, on the third night 
 I ran into the quarry. 
 
 It was at midnight that we rode up to a post- 
 house upon the Kiefsky road. I did not expect 
 more than news of the fugitives : they had passed, 
 I should be told, so many hours before ; yet when 
 the night groom came forward to take my orders 
 he began by telling me, if I desired the nochliog^ or 
 night's rest, I must sleep in the stable, for wonder- 
 ful things were happening here. 
 
 * Never mind the wonderful things, fool ; tell 
 me quickly how long since there passed a dormdse
 
 264 MAZEPPA 
 
 containing a man and a woman, besides the 
 driver ? ' 
 
 4 It has not passed at all,' said the fellow, grin- 
 ning and scratching his head, * because it is still 
 here ! ' 
 
 * Come into the stable quickly ! ' I said, fearful 
 lest he should be heard, supposing that this 
 wondrous thing were really true. * Now,' I con- 
 tinued, when we had entered the horse-shed and 
 closed the door, * tell me what you were going to 
 say at first.' 
 
 * The man is sleeping in the travelling carriage 
 because the woman has barricaded herself in the 
 post-room ; this is the second night : the post- 
 master argues and scolds all day, but it is useless. 
 " If he tries to come in here," says the woman, " he 
 shall be killed ! " As for the man, he laughs and 
 says, " We shall see what will happen when her 
 stomach craves for food ! " " God knows," says 
 the master, " how it will end ! " 
 
 * That I will soon show you, my friend,' said 
 I, ( for I have come to end it ! ' 
 
 I hastened to the post-room. ' If you don't 
 wish to be slit in two halves or have your brains 
 set flowing, go not near that mad thing,' said the 
 groom. Lord ! you should hear her cry out at 
 the other ! ' 
 
 Disregarding his warnings, to his great alarm
 
 MAZEPPA 265 
 
 I knocked at the door of the post-room, saying it 
 was I, Chelminsky, come to deliver her. 
 
 * Ah,' said Vera's voice from within, * it is 
 that devil, assuming Chelminsky's voice. I am 
 not so easily deceived, Mazeppa ! ' 
 
 * It is indeed I, Vera,' said I joyously. * I 
 have followed you with difficulty, but I have 
 found you at last.' 
 
 * Oh ! ' cried she from within, * it sounds like 
 Chelminsky ; but dare I open and risk it ? 
 Remember, if it is you, Mazeppa, you devil, that 
 if you touch me you die I swear it again and 
 again.' 
 
 * How shall I prove it to you that I am I ? ' 
 said I in despair. * I was watching in Vaiseuk's 
 hut and saw you carried out by night. Is that 
 proof ? ' 
 
 Then Vera opened the door a little and peeped 
 out, and with a cry of joy she threw it open and 
 fell upon me with tears and embraces, which 
 latter I returned with interest, being the first I 
 had given or received from this modest and 
 splendid maiden. 
 
 'Now, shut yourself up once again, for I 
 shall first settle accounts with Mazeppa,' said I. 
 1 In case he should better me, you will be worse 
 off than before ! ' 
 
 * No, I will see this account settled,' she said ;
 
 266 MAZEPPA 
 
 and when I bade her take her sword or her pistol, 
 or whatsoever it was she had had with her in the 
 room that with which she threatened to take his 
 life if he should have attempted the door she 
 told me to my surprise that she had nothing ! 
 
 * Threats are good weapons against some foes,' 
 she said, laughing ! 
 
 Nevertheless I gave Vera my own dagger, 
 for I liked not that she should be unarmed, 
 in case of accident, and bade her keep it in her 
 bosom. 
 
 Then we went to find Mazeppa in his 
 dorm&e> wherein he slept soundly. 
 
 4 Awake, Mazeppa,' I cried, f for I am here ! ' 
 
 He opened his eyes and saw me, saw Vera 
 also ; yet he did not become confused or show 
 terror or surprise even in the moment of waking. 
 
 * What, you, Chelminsky,' he said, * and come 
 so far after this baggage ? Well, take her, my 
 friend, if you think her worth the having ; as for 
 me, I have changed my opinion ! ' 
 
 * I shall certainly take her,' said I, * and that 
 without your permission ; but first you shall 
 fight me ' 
 
 ' What, for her sake ? Dear man ! believe 
 me, she is not worth it : I have spent three days 
 in her company, and it is enough. If you are 
 wise, let the fat Russian Boyar have her. We
 
 MAZEPPA 267 
 
 were right to save her from the puling little 
 Tsar ! They two would breed devils and idiots 
 to rule Russia withal ! ' 
 
 1 Fie, Mazeppa, ' said I, c a Cossack and a 
 coward ! ' 
 
 ' Lord, man, you know better than that ! 1 
 like you, Chelminsky ; we are old friends. 
 I nearly got you knouted the other day, but I 
 was angry ; I wanted the wench here, knowing 
 no better. Now it is different. I will not fight 
 on her account the she-devil ! I have scratches 
 upon me from her nails, and kicks from her feet. 
 Another day I will fight, if you will, upon some- 
 what better pretext.' 
 
 ' Get out of the dorm&e, then,' I said, * for I 
 require it for this lady.' 
 
 * What ! ' said he, climbing out nevertheless, 
 * you will not be advised ? Let her go, man, and 
 come back with me : I know her better than 
 you. I have had some experience with women.' 
 
 * Mazeppa, the married man ! ' Vera laughed 
 suddenly. 
 
 * True,' said he, * there is that little affair, too, 
 Chelminsky : some day we may exchange a few 
 passes, but not to-night. It is scarcely worth a 
 man's while to be wakened much less to be 
 obliged to draw a sword upon so trifling a 
 matter as the destination of a scolding woman.
 
 268 MAZEPPA 
 
 Take her, man, or let her go to the devil : as for 
 me, I shall sleep.' 
 
 With these words Mazeppa withdrew to the 
 post-house, and we saw no more of him. I 
 ought, perhaps, to have chastised him or forced 
 him to fight; but his attitude surprised and 
 silenced me, and I think I felt some admiration 
 for a man who could accept defeat so excellently.
 
 MAZEPPA 269 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 WHEN I restored Vera to her father, which I did, 
 be sure, not without some pomp and posturing, 
 he looked at me in astonishment. 
 
 'Why,' said he, *is not this the youth I 
 was to have knouted ? You are the Cossack 
 Chelminsky ! ' 
 
 * Certainly I am,' I admitted. 
 
 * One Cossack takes her and the other brings 
 her back ! One Cossack prevents her marrying 
 with the Tsar, and the other entreats me for her 
 hand, saying he will be Hetman and the brother 
 and equal of kings. When I do not trust him, 
 and will marry her to a great Russian Boyar, 
 Mazeppa runs away with her and Chelminsky 
 brings her back ! What is Mazeppa's next 
 move ? ' 
 
 * Oh, you have done with Mazeppa, Boyar, 
 fear not : ask, if you will, what is Chelminsky's 
 next move ; that is different ! ' 
 
 * Well,' said the old man, * what is it ? ' 
 
 * Chelminsky says,' I replied, * that he too has
 
 270 MAZEPPA 
 
 been promised the Hetmanate of the Cossacks, 
 and that he would claim this Vera for his own ! ' 
 
 4 A cool request, indeed ! ' exclaimed the 
 Boyar, laughing ; f but I trust no more Cossacks ! 
 What, will you both be Hetman of the same 
 province at the same time ? ' 
 
 4 If Mazeppa had the word of a Tsar to back 
 his chance, so had I : there are two Tsars in 
 Russia.' 
 
 4 Oh, oh ! ' laughed the Boyar, f and each 
 Tsar will nominate one Hetman, and the stronger 
 of these shall cut the throat of the other. Is that 
 how the matter shall be ? Or shall the greater 
 liar or deceiver prevail over the lesser, both being 
 Cossacks ? ' 
 
 * Well, I will bring you the Tsar Peter's 
 word,' I said angrily, ' and we shall see whether 
 you dare speak thus of him whom the Tsar has 
 promised to support.' 
 
 * Now this grows interesting,' said the Boyar. 
 4 What ! are the joint Tsars to unjoin in order 
 that Chelminsky may oust Mazeppa, or Mazeppa 
 Chelminsky, in the headship of a few Cossack 
 thieves ? Leave the Tsar alone, Chelminsky, 
 and leave my girl alone also, and return among 
 your Cossacks. The wench shall marry a 
 Russian. She might have called herself Tsaritsa: 
 maybe she still might, if she would ! If she will
 
 MAZEPPA 271 
 
 not marry the Tsar, she shall marry some Russian 
 who lags not so very far behind him in power 
 and in wealth, but neither a Mazeppa nor a 
 Chelminsky.' 
 
 I left Kurbatof in wrath, vowing that he 
 should sing a different tune when the Tsar Peter, 
 that young lion, began to roar. Meanwhile I 
 presented myself at Preobrajensky, where I found 
 the ' Pleasure Regiment ' grown larger than ever, 
 and its drilling busily proceeding ; and though 
 the tall young Tsar himself played with the 
 troops as though they were no more realities than 
 so many companies or squadrons of tin soldiers, 
 there were many officers, both young and old, 
 who were much in earnest. 
 
 The Tsar was greatly diverted by my story of 
 Vera, and of how Mazeppa had nearly carried 
 her away to the Ukraine and I had brought her 
 back. 
 
 c Is she so fair that she has made fools of two 
 Cossacks ? ' he laughed. 
 
 ' Ask his Highness Ivan Alexeyevitch whether 
 she is fair,' I said : * this is she who so nearly was 
 Tsaritsa ! ' 
 
 * Hey, but our little Praskovia was not to be 
 surpassed. What said we, Chelminsky, eh ? 
 Who would have thought my poor Vanushka 
 would prove himself a man of such good taste, or
 
 272 MAZEPPA 
 
 went he solely on the advice I sent him ? My 
 mother declared it would be all one to Ivan 
 whether he married this maid or that ; but I say 
 he knows one from another, and some, I am told, 
 would have given an eye to marry him ! ' 
 
 The Tsar Peter laughed much over this 
 matter, namely, that Ivan should have shown 
 preference for a maiden and that some should 
 have desired to marry him. * Well, then,' he 
 ended, 'as to this Vera Kurbatof, what would 
 you do ? ' 
 
 4 1 have out-foxed Mazeppa,' I said, * and 
 would have the fruits of my victory. Her 
 father's head is turned by her almost success at 
 the bride-choosing, and he will not hear of me.' 
 
 * How would it be to tell the fool you may 
 one day be Hetman ? ' laughed Peter ; but when 
 I declared I had done so, and that Mazeppa had 
 made the same boast, he looked grave. 
 
 * If that be so, and he prefers to believe that 
 the Regent's word for Mazeppa will prevail over 
 my word for Chelminsky, how shall he be per- 
 suaded except he wait to see the matter proved ?' 
 
 { Write me a word on paper, Tsar,' I said; 
 maybe it is my word he disbelieves, not yours.' 
 
 'To be shown by him to the Regent, and she 
 to be put upon her guard ? You speak like a fool, 
 Chelminsky, and a dangerous fool ! I wish your
 
 MAZEPPA 273 
 
 tongue had not wagged of this. Will the fool 
 blab to my sister that I have said this and that ? 
 
 * Fear not, Tsar, for at present he thinks 
 nothing of the matter, misbelieving all that I 
 have said and all that Mazeppa has said. We are, 
 he says, two Cossack liars, and there is an end of 
 the matter.' 
 
 * And a good end too ! ' exclaimed Peter. 
 * Well, when I come to town for St. Ivan's Day, 
 which is early next week, it may be I shall go 
 with you to see this Kurbatof, and if we find that 
 he is a discreet Boyar, and one likely to be of 
 service to me (supposing that certain things 
 presently happen which Boutourlin and some of 
 the others think possible), I will show him that 
 you are my man, and that he might do worse for 
 this wench of his than let you have her.' 
 
 And thus, perforce, I was obliged to leave the 
 matter for the present. 
 
 I went with Tsar Peter, or rather among 
 those who accompanied his Highness, to the 
 Cathedral within the Kremlin, in Moscow, for 
 the solemn service of St. Ivan's Day, and waited 
 near him at the great entrance until the Tsar Ivan 
 with the Regent should arrive and be greeted by 
 the crowds who awaited him, for this was his 
 name's day.' 
 
 And presently there came driving up the
 
 274 MAZEPPA 
 
 great state carriage of her Highness, and in it 
 the Regent herself, the Tsar Ivan, Galitsin, who 
 sat as high as the Tsar, or higher, and smiling 
 radiantly, most beautiful, the darling of the shout- 
 ing crowd Praskovia Soltikof, the Tsaritsa-elect. 
 
 Striking was the contrast this day between 
 that lovely maiden and him whom she must 
 presently own for husband and life-mate ! 
 
 Ivan sat, timid, cowering from the people, 
 angry to have been brought among them, and 
 frightened, but half understanding what passed, 
 hiding as well as he could from the crowd that 
 stared and pointed and bowed and laughed and 
 shouted around. 
 
 She, the very flower and queen among 
 women, proud and radiant, loving the applause of 
 the people and drinking it in like strong wine, 
 smiling back upon them, winning all hearts : 
 truly a beautiful picture ! 
 
 Sophia the Regent smiled also, happy to have 
 brought this bride-choosing to so good an issue 
 and to see that the people applauded the choice of 
 the Tsar. Galitsin sat proud and stiff, neither 
 smiling nor frowning, but having an eye for 
 every face in the crowds near the carriage, anxious 
 to read the thoughts of the people and if 
 possible to hear their opinions, as well as might 
 be in the din and babel of sound about him.
 
 MAZEPPA 27$ 
 
 And it was well indeed that there sat one in 
 the carriage whose eyes were wide open this day, 
 and his quick brain alert to perceive all that 
 passed in the crowd, for otherwise it would have 
 gone ill with the Tsar's beautiful young bride ! 
 
 I, too, had been in danger without being 
 aware of it until a few moments before the arrival 
 of the Tsar and the Regent. 
 
 For as I stood watching the crowd at the 
 great door of the Cathedral, together with the 
 Tsar Peter and a number of his own people, I 
 had suddenly perceived Olga Panief. 
 
 She stood below, at the bottom of the steps 
 and among the crowd, shawled and half disguised, 
 looking for me, I doubted not, the poor mad 
 thing, and anxious to do me an injury if she 
 could come close enough. She had not seen me, 
 and I placed myself in such a way that she should 
 not perceive my face, though she could not have 
 reached me even though she had caught sight 
 of me. 
 
 Nevertheless I kept a watchful eye upon her, 
 for I would rather have no share in a brawl with 
 a mad woman, in the face of all Moscow. 
 
 But I might have been quite at my ease, for 
 as soon appeared Olga had another object this 
 day for her murderous ire, and I was forgotten for 
 the moment. 
 
 T 2
 
 276 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 As the Regent's carnage drew near, all eyes being 
 fixed upon it, and principally upon the beautiful 
 young Tsaritsa-elect, I saw Olga push her way 
 so as to be at the very door of it when it should 
 draw up at the steps ; and as the wheels stopped 
 she darted forward. Scarcely conscious of what I 
 did, 1 called aloud, * Soltikova, beware ! ' 
 
 I did not suppose that anyone had heard my 
 cry, for a thousand other voices were raised at 
 the time in greeting to the great persons ; but 
 Galitsin stood up as Olga was about to strike, 
 and seized the girl's wrist. In her hand was a 
 Tartar dagger, which, but for Galitsin, would 
 certainly have found its sheath in Praskovia 
 Soltikof s breast. 
 
 Then there was commotion indeed ! The 
 Tsar Ivan awoke suddenly from his lethargy and 
 screamed. 
 
 ' It is the mad one,' he cried ; * take her away, 
 cut her down, Streltsi, kill her kill her ! ' 
 
 Praskovia Soltikof had grown pale, but she
 
 MAZEPPA 277 
 
 kept her wits. * Fear nothing, Ivan,' she said. 
 'This poor maiden would strike me, not thee ; 
 she is mad for jealousy. Do not kill her, Streltsi. 
 Bethink thyself, Olga, only one can win ; it is the 
 will of God. I have done thee no injury except 
 to gain the prize before thee.' 
 
 * Is not that enough, she-devil ? ' shrieked 
 Olga, struggling in the hands of the Streltsi who 
 had seized her. l You have gained the prize not 
 by merit but by wicked arts ' 
 
 * I have won because the Tsar has chosen me,' 
 said Praskovia, and here the Regent interrupted. 
 
 ' Listen, people,' she cried to those who stood 
 near, ' and judge for yourselves how wisely the 
 Tsar has decided who it is that shall sit with him 
 in the highest place ! This other is a rival whom 
 the Tsar has rejected, and for envy she would 
 murder the bride of the Tsar ; yet her victim 
 intercedes for her ! Such mercy is Christ-like ! 
 What shall be done with this mad thing ? ' 
 
 ' Kill her ! ' cried the Tsar, and some of the 
 people shouted the same. * Spare her and let her 
 go, as the Soltikova has said,' cried others ; and 
 I found myself crying lustily with these. * Spare 
 her she is one of God's unfortunates madness 
 is no crime ! ' and so forth. 
 
 ' It shall be as the bride of the Tsar has said,' 
 cried Sophia. 'Take her away, Streltsi, but do
 
 278 MAZEPPA 
 
 not hurt her : we will find a place tor her later. 
 The new Tsaritsa has taught us all mercy, people ; 
 cry " Oora " for the Tsar's bride let her have a 
 place in your hearts ! ' 
 
 Now at first I was surprised at the clemency 
 of the Regent, but when I thought over it I 
 discerned that her motives were not the simple 
 promptings of a Christian charity, but political. 
 This marriage of Ivan's was the most important 
 matter for her. If Ivan had refused to marry, 
 her regency must end with Peter's awakening, 
 which could not be delayed for ever. But once 
 Ivan should have set a Tsaritsa at his side who 
 should presently provide heirs to the elder male 
 line, why, let Peter awake or sleep, it was all the 
 same. Sophia would continue in her regency on 
 behalf of Ivan and of the heirs of his body. 
 Moreover, it was most desirable that the wife of 
 Ivan should be well liked by the people ; for 
 though between Ivan and Peter, if it came to 
 choice, there could scarcely be room for doubt 
 which would be the accepted of the nation, yet if 
 Ivan's Tsaritsa were to become very popular the 
 choice might go the other way for her sake and 
 her children's. Therefore Sophia, for whose head- 
 piece even the wisest of her day were ever ready 
 to show respect, was quick to take advantage of 
 Praskovia's kindness on this first occasion, by
 
 MAZEPPA 279 
 
 letting the people see and understand what had 
 passed in order that the new Tsaritsa might take 
 good root in their hearts. 
 
 As for Praskovia Soltikof, she could afford to 
 be generous and merciful. Moreover, it may 
 be that she also had an eye this day to the 
 people ! 
 
 And for Olga Panief, she at least had cause 
 to offer up thanks to her saint, for I think there 
 could scarcely have been a score present who did 
 not expect to see her cut in pieces by the swords 
 of the Streltsi when it was discovered how great 
 a crime she would have committed. 
 
 Tsar Peter was greatly diverted by this 
 episode. Presently, when the two brothers were 
 together in the portico of the Cathedral, I 
 observed tall Peter smite weakly Ivan upon the 
 shoulder so that the elder youth winced and 
 screwed his face with the pain, though he smiled 
 quickly back upon Peter, from whom he would 
 gladly bear anything, so great was his love and 
 admiration for him. 
 
 1 Tell me, brother, how near came that Tartar to 
 being the Tsaritsa ? ' the big one asked, laughing. 
 
 * She was one of three,' said Ivan, not so 
 softly but that I overheard, though I knew not 
 whether Praskovia Soltikof did so. * She was one 
 of three Vera Kurbatof, whom I chose but who
 
 280 MAZEPPA 
 
 would have none of me ; this mad devil, whom 
 Sophia would have chosen for her good presence ; 
 and Praskovia here, who chose herself. She 
 brought also a recommendation from thee.' 
 
 Ivan would always converse with Peter, though 
 rarely with others. 
 
 4 Lord, brother, she would have made a fine 
 Tsaritsa, this mad one,' laughed Peter. f What a 
 choice was thine, Sophia ! ' 
 
 ' She looks a Tsaritsa,' said Sophia, frowning ; 
 * how should I know a devil lurked within her ? 
 Few wear their dispositions on their sleeves that 
 others may take a warning, though, Lord knows ! 
 there are such even in our family ! ' 
 
 * Which means, in plain words, that there is 
 a devil in me for all to see ! ' laughed Peter. 
 
 And the saying pleased him so well that he 
 went among his friends telling what her Highness 
 said and what he said, and so forth. 
 
 As for Olga Panief, she was sent to the Die- 
 vitchy monastery, and a pretty handful 1 
 should say the new Superior there must have 
 found her ; indeed, as I happen to know, Olga 
 soon earned for herself the misery of solitary 
 confinement, as a punishment for wildness and 
 foolishness such as the rest of the nuns could 
 not tolerate.
 
 MAZEPPA 281 
 
 But I was all afire to make sure of my 
 beautiful Vera Kurbatof, and therefore I gave 
 Tsar Peter no peace until he should have 
 redeemed his promise to set this matter in order, 
 if he could do so, to my advantage. 
 
 Now Peter was as yet but in his seventeenth 
 year, though a giant in size, and Kurbatof that 
 wealthy Boyar had hitherto scarcely given this 
 Prince a thought ; for it was clear to all people 
 that Ivan being the elder, and Sophia being full 
 sister to Ivan and but half-sister to Peter, it was 
 probable she would retain the Regency and Ivan 
 the Tsarship. Peter was nil ; this joint Tsarship, 
 indeed, had been a concession to the strength of 
 the Naryshkin faction, but the day would come 
 when its influence would die out and disappear 
 in the strength of the Regent's faction. 
 
 Therefore Kurbatof was inclined to think 
 little of Tsar Peter, and though he received him 
 with respect, he was determined to let the youth 
 see that he (Kurbatof) would be no man of his. 
 
 Now Vera's suitor, the fat old Boyar of ten 
 thousand souls, or serfs for the Russians 
 measure their riches by the number of their 
 serfs was in the house when Tsar Peter came 
 with me to speak to the Boyar, Vera's father. 
 
 * Who is this ? ' asked Peter, before he had
 
 282 MAZEPPA 
 
 time to salute Kurbatof. ' Is this the old Boyar 
 who is thy rival, Chelminsky ? Go, sir, for shame ! 
 You are too old and too fat to have so fair a 
 bride as this Vera ! Go, I say, and leave room 
 for thy youngers and betters ! ' 
 
 The Boyar was proud, being rich and power- 
 ful, and the young Tsar's outspoken manner 
 offended him. 
 
 * I am a suitor for her hand, Highness,' he 
 said ; ' if her father chooses to ' 
 
 Peter strode towards the Boyar ; he seized 
 him by the collar and shook him. * Wouldst 
 thou feed upon the fairest flower in the garden, 
 fat slug ? ' he said. f Go crawl away and hide 
 thyself or I will crush thee with my heel ! She 
 is too good for thee, swine, in spite of all thy 
 money bags ! ' 
 
 The Boyar panted with fear and surprise : he 
 would have spoken, but he gazed upon the Tsar's 
 face and dared not. Then he took his hat and 
 cloak and went out quickly. 
 
 * Now, Boyar,' said Peter, show me this 
 wench. I bring you a good suitor for her ! 
 This fellow Chelminsky may one day be Hetman 
 of the Cossacks and call me brother ; think of 
 it!' 
 
 c Let him come back when he is Hetman,' 
 growled old Kurbatof.
 
 MAZEPPA 283 
 
 Whereat the Tsar laughed. 'Well, Chel- 
 minsky,' said he, c let that answer suffice for 
 thee. Maybe thou and the Hetmanate are not 
 
 very far apart ' At this moment Vera 
 
 herself entered the room, and the Tsar ended 
 his speech with a long-drawn ' Oh ! '
 
 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 FOR the rest of the interview my patron, this 
 Tsar of seventeen, made barefaced love to Vera 
 Kurbatof, ignoring my presence and the motive 
 of his visit, which had been to advance my suit 
 with her father. 
 
 Vera being the senior of the Tsar by nearly 
 two years received his boyish homage with com- 
 placence. Being anxious to secure his goodwill, 
 she was amiable and animated, and the Tsar as 
 my jealous eyes could perceive thought well of 
 her beauty and manners. 
 
 When we came forth, after a visit of an hour, 
 he made no further mention, either to Kurbatof 
 or to Vera, of my suit : he had forgotten the 
 object of his coming in the delight of Vera's 
 presence. 
 
 * That is the best wench I have yet seen,' he 
 
 said ; f and if ,' at this point Peter paused and 
 
 became thoughtful. 
 
 * Your Highness wished to say,' I suggested, 
 ' that if the Boyarishnya Vera '
 
 MAZEPPA 285 
 
 * If she were not older than I, she might 
 do for me when it is my turn to marry, next 
 year.' 
 
 * Say, rather, if she were not promised to 
 another,' said I, flushing. Peter frowned. 
 
 < Another ? What other ? ' he asked. 
 
 'Your Highness came to arrange my suit,' 
 I said, angrily enough ; * not to seek a bride for 
 your own marrying.' 
 
 f Oh oh ! the Tsar must choose first ! But, 
 Lord, what a thundercloud is in thy face ! Cheer 
 up, man ! is thy happiness bound up in this 
 wench ? ' 
 
 * I did not look to have the Tsar for a rival,' 
 I blurted. * This is not fair dealing, Peter 
 Alexeyevitch ! ' 
 
 1 There is no rivalry yet. Fear not, she is 
 too old for me. My mother will have me take a 
 wife of sixteen ; this one is nineteen, or near it, 
 but she is handsome ' 
 
 * Fear not, man,' he suddenly continued, 
 giving me a mighty slap upon the back : * thou 
 shalt be Hetman as soon as I am true Tsar, and 
 then this old fool shall let thee take his girl.' 
 
 * Now the Tsar speaks,' I said, relieved and 
 gratified. * I knew not who spoke in thy voice 
 before.' 
 
 * Oh, it was I, my friend,' he laughed. * She
 
 286 MAZEPPA 
 
 is too old for me, or I might yet take her out of 
 thy hands.' 
 
 Nevertheless, Vera informed me to my sur- 
 prise, when next I saw her, that Peter had been 
 each day, and that he had commanded the Boyar, 
 under pain of grievous punishment, to see that 
 his daughter remained unbetrothed for a year. 
 
 * And what means that, Vera ? ' I asked 
 gloomily. * That he would preserve thee in safety 
 for me to wed when I am Hetman, or that he 
 will think of thee for himself when the time comes 
 for his bride-choosing ? ' 
 
 4 At any rate, it will keep our fat Boyar away,' 
 she smiled. f For the rest, save me from another 
 
 Tsaritsa-choosing ! Sooner let us ' Vera 
 
 paused. 
 
 * Let us what, my Vera ? ' I insisted. * Speak 
 and fear not.' 
 
 4 It is most sinful to marry without the con- 
 sent of the parents,' she said ; l and yet I can 
 imagine that such a step might be necessary. My 
 father has been cruel in these matters, though I 
 know well that he seeks my advantage as he sees 
 it.' 
 
 The end of this conversation was that we 
 were quite agreed to take matters into our own 
 hands and do as we willed rather than as Tsars 
 and fathers ruled it. But destiny proved too 
 hard for us.
 
 MAZEPPA 287 
 
 For the Boyar Kurbatof, seeing great hope for 
 his daughter's advancement in the behaviour of 
 the Tsar Peter, who insisted that Vera should re- 
 main unbetrothed for a year, now suddenly altered 
 his attitude towards Vera ; and whereas she had 
 hitherto enjoyed more freedom than was usual 
 among Russian maidens at that time, he now insti- 
 tuted the strictest terem for her in his own house, 
 placing her behind iron bars and silken curtains, 
 and forbidding and effectually preventing all 
 access to her except by her old nurse. 
 
 Thus it happened that the interview at which 
 we had arranged to rebel proved to be our last 
 meeting for many a day ; and to every applica- 
 tion made by me to the Boyar for a sight of his 
 beloved daughter, I received the reply : * Come 
 at the end of a year if you are Hetman.' 
 
 The Tsar Peter was admitted several times 
 before his return to Preobrajensky, and this 
 added much to my torture, which became so acute 
 that I gladly received, presently, the call to ride 
 with my Cossacks upon Galitsin's new expedi- 
 tion against the Crimean Tartars, leaving Vera 
 to the care of the Highest and of her own 
 discretion. 
 
 When I came to Batourin I saw Mazeppa for 
 the first time since I had taken Vera from him at 
 the post station, and I came prepared for war ; 
 for surely, I thought, 1 should be called to account.
 
 288 MAZEPPA 
 
 But Mazeppa was inclined to treat the matter 
 lightly. 
 
 4 What ! ' he said. * You bring no wife ? 
 Where, then, is the fair, foolish Vera ? ' 
 
 ' I have no wife. The Barishnya Kurbatof 
 remains in Moscow. And why, I pray, is she 
 called foolish ? ' 
 
 * Oh ! ' he laughed, f it would not become me 
 to say ; but, tell me, has she proved herself so 
 wise that she has sent Chelminsky about his 
 business ? ' 
 
 ' She is and remains wise,' I replied, * since 
 she both escaped Mazeppa and prefers to tarry 
 where she is, safe from false friends and hypo- 
 crites.' 
 
 ' Come, Chelminsky, take not such matters 
 too seriously : women are toys. If she has 
 played thee false, as she has served me and others 
 also, it is a matter to laugh at, not to weep for. 
 She is not worth a tear, my son, nor a frown 
 was there ever woman worth crying for ? ' 
 
 * I will uphold the honour of Vera with 
 my sword ; therefore speak well of her or not 
 at all,' I said angrily ; and Mazeppa laughed 
 and shrugged his shoulders, though he looked 
 annoyed. I have since thought all this indif- 
 ference was assumed to deceive me, and that he 
 had not yet forgotten his love for Vera, which
 
 MAZEPPA 289 
 
 was real enough at the beginning, and when he 
 would have stolen her from me. 
 
 After this we spoke of military matters, for 
 Mazeppa was at this time the Hetman's chief 
 minister for all that concerned warfare and the 
 arming and preparing for campaigns, and it was 
 necessary to put fifty thousand lances in the field 
 very quickly to help Galitsin and his Russians 
 against the Tartar Khan in the Crimea. 
 
 Now Samoilovitch, the Hetman, took com- 
 mand of our troops, wishing for military glory, 
 and more especially to gain favour with Sophia, 
 Regent of Russia, by personally assisting her 
 dearly-loved Galitsin from whom and from 
 Sophia herself he had lately received little but 
 coldness, for which, had he but known it, there 
 was none but Mazeppa to thank. Mazeppa, pre- 
 paring the ground for his own succession as 
 Hetman, which is a life office, or is held until 
 deposal, had traitorously done and said all he 
 could to undermine the position of Samoilovitch, 
 who suspected nothing, but trusted Mazeppa 
 absolutely. 
 
 Therefore, when the Crimean expedition 
 failed, and it was necessary to find a scape- 
 goat in order that Galitsin, the favourite, should 
 not suffer blame, the responsibility was shifted 
 from his shoulders upon those of our poor 
 
 u
 
 290 MAZEPPA 
 
 Cossacks, and especially upon Samoilovitch, the 
 Hetman. 
 
 The result of which treachery was that 
 Samoilovitch was arrested in his tent and sent to 
 Moscow, and thence to Siberia a deposed, exiled, 
 and ruined man, without being permitted to visit 
 his home before departure. 
 
 Now when rumours reached the army in the 
 Crimea that Samoilovitch would be deposed, it 
 occurred to me immediately that Mazeppa must, 
 in some way, have a hand in this matter, and that 
 the whole arrangement was, likely enough, his 
 handiwork, since unless I could somehow check- 
 mate him he would certainly be the one to 
 profit by the Hetman's deposal. 
 
 Therefore I awaited the discharge of the troops 
 in a frenzy of impatience, for I knew well that 
 Mazeppa would not waste these precious days 
 and weeks which destiny compelled me to fritter 
 away in idle waiting.
 
 MAZEPPA 291 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 MAZEPPA had wasted no time. I gave him credit 
 for the cunning of a fox, but no man could have 
 expected that he would have done so much for 
 himself in so short a while. 
 
 When I returned to Batourin I found that the 
 matter of a succession to the Hetmanate was 
 already settled, and the Hetman himself away in 
 Moscow. 
 
 1 And the Hetman is Mazeppa ? ' I asked, sick 
 and faint with disappointment. 
 
 c Who but he ? ' said my informant ; ' there 
 was little talk of any other. It was two weeks 
 ago. The order for deposal of Samoilovitch came 
 from Moscow, and was read out in full assembly 
 by Mazeppa himself, amid groans, for the orders 
 stated that Samoilovitch had made Lord knows 
 what dismal blunders with our poor lances, and 
 had been fooled both this way and that by the 
 Khan. Now Mazeppa had well packed the meet- 
 ing both with Russians from Moscow and his 
 
 U 2
 
 292 MAZEPPA 
 
 own people here, and when, presently, he asked 
 whom the assembly would like to nominate as 
 the new Hetman, subject to the approval of the 
 Russian Tsars and Regent, someone called out 
 " Mazeppa." Then another called his name, and 
 then a hundred more. A few cried " Chelminsky " 
 and " Panief " and other names, but the Mazeppas 
 had the day by scores to one ; and when the Russian 
 delegate announced that this was well, since he had 
 the authority of the Regent to nominate, in her 
 name, this same Mazeppa, he was then and there 
 elected, and set out presently for Moscow to do 
 homage on his promotion.' 
 
 In any case, I comforted myself, I should not 
 have succeeded at present, not until Peter should 
 have asserted himself. My hopes must be fixed 
 upon that time : when Peter ousted the Regent, I 
 should do the same by Mazeppa. 
 
 Meanwhile, what devilry did he in Moscow ? 
 For it had come to this, that I feared to turn my 
 back upon this fox when he chanced to be within 
 reach of any fowl-yard of mine ; and though he 
 had ridiculed any further interest in Vera, I was 
 anxious lest he should have lied to me. 
 
 Nevertheless, it was necessary to possess 
 myself in patience, for Mazeppa's absence might 
 prove my opportunity to work out my own des- 
 tiny at Batourin, and I spent my time in diligently
 
 MAZEPPA 293 
 
 making a party for myself, against the day of my 
 advancement and his fall. 
 
 Mazeppa, I found, was not popular. There 
 were hundreds who had grievances against him, 
 and most of these promised that if it should come 
 to another election Chelminsky's name should be 
 shouted as loud as Mazeppa's, or louder. 
 
 By the time Mazeppa returned I flattered 
 myself that I had done well for my cause. At 
 any rate, I had out-foxed this cunning one who 
 had stolen a march upon me in my absence. He 
 came, suspecting nothing, and meanwhile I had 
 prepared a powder mine beneath his feet, which 
 should one day explode and bring him toppling 
 from the seat upon which I would sit. 
 
 Mazeppa was friendly. I was to occupy no 
 less exalted a position under him than I had enjoyed 
 under Samoilovitch I should find Mazeppa the 
 Hetman, said he, no less my firm friend than 
 Mazeppa the secretary. 
 
 'And a securer friendship that,' he laughed, 
 c be sure, than some of thine in Moscow ! ' 
 
 ' What mean you by that ? ' I asked, flushing. 
 
 ' Of all friends, beware of one especially,' he 
 said. * One who would have made thee Hetman ; 
 who would have saved a certain wench for 
 thee, should other suitors claim her in thy 
 absence ; he who would many folks said pre-
 
 294 MAZEPPA 
 
 sently show himself the young lion awake, and 
 would lustily roar and go forth to kill for 
 himself/ 
 
 ( Go on,' I said hastily, f and explain how and 
 in what has this friendship failed me ? ' 
 
 * In three ways,' he laughed. * Nay, look not 
 so grim : blame me not, for how am I in fault ? 
 Did I believe in this young lion of thine ? My 
 faith was in the Regent and her Galitsin ; said I 
 not so from the first ? And see how well my 
 friends have served me ! But this young Peter 
 of thine ' 
 
 < Well,' I said, < this Peter ? ' 
 
 * Where is thy nomination as Hetman ? 
 Where is any power that he has ? He is still a 
 cub, and looks not like roaring ; he whines for 
 others to bring him his food ; he gambols near his 
 parent-nest, and thinks not of going forth to 
 kill.' 
 
 ( His day will come,' I said, * though it has 
 not yet dawned. As for the Hetmanate, your 
 friends have gained it for you, and it is yours. 
 Do I deny or dispute it ? Keep it, Mazeppa, in 
 the Lord's name.' 
 
 * That I shall do with all my heart, and my 
 good friends such as thyself shall help me so 
 to do. I know whom I may trust, Chelminsky ; 
 we are old friends, thou and I.'
 
 MAZEPPA 295 
 
 * So let us remain,' said I, for I would play 
 the fox with this fox, and I did my utmost to 
 seem very sincere in my friendship. c The wise 
 man, when he has lost the game, recognises that 
 the luck is against him, and so do I ! But what 
 is this you hint as to the Tsar Peter having 
 failed,' I added, as indifferently as I could, c in 
 his promise to protect a certain lady on my 
 behalf ? ' 
 
 1 1 dare not tell you,' said Mazeppa, * lest you 
 fly out upon me and swear I lie to you for 
 jealousy.' 
 
 * Bah ! ' I said, c I am learning to follow 
 your philosophy, that women are unworthy of 
 a sigh.' 
 
 * Oh, if that be so, I wish you joy of your 
 wisdom ! ' he said, laughing, * and I will tell you 
 all. The Tsar Peter well, he is young enough 
 to think differently of such things. He will 
 marry before many months, and meanwhile ' 
 
 4 Yes, meanwhile he teaches himself the art 
 of love-making in advance,' I said, finishing his 
 sentence when he paused. 'What a tattered 
 thing will be the heart of Vera as I shall 
 receive it ! ' 
 
 * Be not so sure even of a tattered remnant ! ' 
 he laughed ; * young Peter is a more dangerous 
 rival than his brother Ivan ! '
 
 296 MAZEPPA 
 
 1 Does all this mean,' said I, ' that Mazeppa 
 has renewed his suit of late, and with no more 
 success than of old ? ' 
 
 * What, I ? ' he exclaimed, flushing neverthe- 
 less, in spite of his bravado. c No, Chelminsky ; 
 I have had sterner work to do in Moscow than 
 love-making, though indeed there was good 
 reason to believe that if I had raised a finger a 
 certain bird would have sung ! ' 
 
 c What, both for Mazeppa and for Peter ? ' 
 cried I, affecting to be vastly amused. { By the 
 saints, a pretty warbler is this that I have fed in 
 my bosom, that sings to all comers ! Which was 
 the favoured, Mazeppa, thou or Tsar Peter ? ' 
 
 * I will tell thee truth,' said Mazeppa : ' the 
 Tsar Peter being seriously in love, and I, as thou 
 knowest, no more than toying with passion, he 
 desired to have the way clear for himself; there- 
 fore I acted the dutiful vassal and left his Highness 
 a straight course.' 
 
 1 So that I, for my part, have lost both patron 
 and mistress ? ' said I, still affecting indifference, 
 though actually I was near boiling over with rage ; 
 c for it seems you would have me understand that 
 whether Peter wooed or Mazeppa, at any rate 
 there was no remembrance of me.' 
 
 { Chelminsky, the new-found philosopher, will 
 not weep, I wager, even though so it be ! ' he said ;
 
 MAZEPPA 297 
 
 * nor yet will he blame the fair Vera, who takes 
 her wooing where she finds it.' 
 
 * Then, I say,' cried I, firing up at last, ' that 
 Mazeppa is a liar, Hetman or no Hetman as 
 great a liar as Hetman as he has been from the 
 beginning and will be to the end. Shall I beat 
 thee with a stick now, Hetman Mazeppa, or spit 
 thee with a sword presently before witnesses ? 
 Thou owest me a drubbing for the wedding I 
 gave thee with Olga, and another for spoiling thy 
 villainy with Vera. Come, I am ready for it 
 now, and at the same time thou shalt answer to 
 me for many lies, and for a certain knouting 
 which I did not get no thanks to thee ! ' 
 
 * Oh, if thou must have it so, meet me in the 
 Krasinsky Wood at noon to-morrow,' he said, 
 keeping cool while I raved. * Go cautiously and 
 with thy second only, for, understand, as Hetman 
 I must not be seen duelling with my inferior. I 
 meet thee as a favour, Chelminsky.' 
 
 * Well, do not play the coward and stay away,' 
 I raved, * for Hetman or no Hetman, and favour 
 or no favour, I will make thee eat thy lies, fox 
 Mazeppa, and that I swear ! ' 
 
 * If you will fight, fight you shall,' he replied, 
 * and let the best man win ! ' 
 
 I ought to have felt some suspicion at this 
 saying, for Mazeppa well knew that he was not
 
 298 MAZEPPA 
 
 my match with the sword or rapier, but all that 
 buzzed in my head at this time poor fool that I 
 was was the desire to force his lies down his 
 throat, and to make him suffer for his easy 
 triumph in the matter of the Hetmanate. Why, 
 thought I, if I should kill him to-morrow there 
 must be another Hetman, and that shall surely 
 be I ! But the greatest offence of all was the 
 manner of his talk about Vera. 
 
 And full of this thought I went among my 
 friends that night, bidding them be prepared for 
 a sudden new election, and one of them, young 
 Stanislaus Bedinsky, I chose to be my second.
 
 MAZEPPA 299 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 ALL who have read thus far in my records must be 
 already impressed by the fact that I have told the 
 varying tale of my destiny wheresoever it crosses 
 that of Mazeppa with strictest impartiality. One 
 day I succeed in having the better of him, another 
 I am worsted by him ; and on the whole he out- 
 foxes me, save, perhaps, in one important matter. 
 
 On this day of our appointed duel I must 
 admit my utter defeat and discomfiture. I was 
 fooled, and worsted, and out-foxed, as, doubtless, 
 I deserved to be, for if I had acted in cold instead 
 of hot blood I should never have persuaded 
 myself that Mazeppa would fight me. 
 
 When we came to the rendezvous in the 
 place appointed, Bedinsky and I, thinking poor 
 fools to find our Mazeppa with one other, we 
 found Mazeppa, indeed, but attired as Hetman 
 and attended by an escort of fifty lances. 
 
 * What is this fooling, Mazeppa ? ' said I. 
 * Send these fellows away, all but one, and let us 
 come to an issue.'
 
 300 MAZEPPA 
 
 * We shall come to an issue, Chelminsky, as 
 soon I doubt not as will be pleasing to you. 
 Seize and disarm the rebels, officer.' 
 
 Then Bedinsky and I were suddenly pounced 
 upon by a dozen men each and overpowered. 
 Our weapons were taken from us and we were 
 bound to two trees. 
 
 Then began a trial. An indictment was read : 
 I, Chelminsky, had conspired against the authority 
 of the elected Hetman. I had formed a party 
 of revolution which should take the first oppor- 
 tunity to upset the Government and elect a new 
 Hetman, that Hetman to be Chelminsky. 
 
 Three witnesses were produced from Heaven 
 knows where among the trees, and these rascals, 
 men whom I had believed to be on my side, 
 described how both I and Bedinsky and others 
 still to be arrested had gone among the people 
 canvassing for supporters, promising reward and 
 favour to all those who would assist in ousting the 
 Hetman last elected and in raising another in his 
 place. 
 
 f Save yourself the trouble, Mazeppa,' I cried, 
 bitterly scornful, f all these things are admitted. 
 I am the culprit : Bedinsky and the others named 
 are but private friends of mine and not respon- 
 sible for the " revolution " if so you must call 
 it which is the child of my own brain.'
 
 MAZEPPA 301 
 
 * A fool-child, like its father,' said Mazeppa. 
 ' Did I not say from the first you were a fool, 
 Chelminsky ? Too great a fool to be Hetman, 
 even as I told Peter the Tsar ! He believed me, 
 my friend, and would not have nominated thee 
 in any case.' 
 
 * That is a lie, Mazeppa,' said I. * Maybe I 
 shall yet prove it ! ' 
 
 ' That must be as the court wills,' he replied. 
 * The offence is admitted, gentlemen of the court : 
 the culprit Chelminsky has confessed his crime. 
 Proceed to judgment and sentence.' 
 
 The witnesses were put back and the judges 
 three colonels of Cossack regiments, my equals in 
 rank deliberated. Their deliberations did not 
 last long but five minutes at the most and they 
 presently announced themselves agreed. 
 
 'The prisoners are guilty,' said the senior 
 colonel, and it will scarcely be believed, but both we 
 and others who were named, but not present, were 
 then and there sentenced to death by beheading. 
 
 4 My God, Mazeppa ! ' I cried. c Do I dream ? 
 Am I to be done to death by thee because from 
 first to last we have been rivals in love and 
 politics ? Dost thou fear I shall win in the end ? 
 Keep thy Hetmanship and let me go ! ' 
 
 Mazeppa held up his hand. 
 
 { Let the sentence be executed,' he said.
 
 302 MAZEPPA 
 
 * Thou devil, Mazeppa ! ' I cried. f I would to 
 heaven I had allowed the wolves to gnaw thy naked 
 carcass that day in Volhynia thou knowest of ! ' 
 
 Mazeppa flushed red and then grew pale. 
 
 4 The Hetman was set riding naked through 
 his own country, brothers,' said I, ( for disgrace- 
 ful conduct : he was bound to his horse and 
 would have starved but for me. It was then he 
 bestowed the immeasurable favour of his presence 
 upon the Cossack nation, who have now made 
 him their Hetman. I am Chelminsky, whose 
 father, under Hmelinsky, fought and beat the 
 Poles. I wish I had left this tyrant to the 
 wolves : it is I that should be Hetman not 
 Mazeppa ! ' 
 
 I must have been beside myself to speak these 
 foolish words : to my shame I record them. 
 
 * Let the sentence go forward,' said Mazeppa, 
 white with rage ; { Bedinsky first.' 
 
 And then before my eyes they bound poor 
 Bedinsky upon his knees to a tree stump and 
 beheaded him with a sword. 
 
 I commended my soul to Christ, praying 
 even more heartily that Mazeppa's misdeeds 
 might be remembered against him for this crown- 
 ing sin. 
 
 And now came my turn. They came to 
 remove me from the tree to which I was bound
 
 MAZEPPA 303 
 
 in order that I might be re-bound to a stump 
 more convenient for beheading ; but Mazeppa 
 bade them pause. 
 
 * Chelminsky, thou has proved once again 
 how great a fool thou art,' he said. f Know that 
 I had made up my mind to forgive in remem- 
 brance of our old friendship and of a certain 
 service thou didst me, and which I have not 
 forgotten. But since thou hast lied before all 
 these people, inventing some ridiculous adventure 
 of which I have now heard for the first time, 
 maliciously desiring to injure me in the eyes of 
 my faithful people, I have thought better of my 
 mercy. Thou must die for thy foolishness.' 
 
 * Mercy and Mazeppa ! ' I exclaimed bitterly. 
 1 Mercy is a bastard child if of thy begetting, 
 Mazeppa ; no wonder it is strangled at the very 
 birth ! ' 
 
 * Stay,' he said ; f thy invention has given me 
 an idea. I will have thee stripped and set riding ; 
 it is a pretty invention. Strip him, men.' 
 
 * Or, stay,' said Mazeppa, as the fellows began 
 to unbind me in order to divest me of my 
 clothes. ' My fool of a heart is soft for thee, 
 Chelminsky ; thou shalt be given a chance. 
 There is thy own horse ; mount him and ride 
 like the devil. Thou shalt be pursued after an 
 hour : thou shalt have neither weapon nor
 
 304 MAZEPPA 
 
 money ; there shall be a reward for thy shooting ; 
 do you hear, men r Fifty gold pieces for 
 Chelminsky's head so long as it is taken from his 
 shoulders in Cossack territory.' 
 
 * Good ! I accept,' I cried, * and I thank thee, 
 Mazeppa. I will remember this to thy credit ! ' 
 
 * Well, mount and ride like the devil. Take 
 his sword and his purse. Now go.' 
 
 My heart bounded for joy. I could scarce 
 believe that this good fortune had befallen me 
 me who stood a moment before in the very shadow 
 of death ! My horse was ready saddled : it was 
 Shadrach, a splendid stallion of Ukraine blood, 
 somewhat heavily formed, but of spirit unmatched. 
 
 As I leaped away I half expected to hear a 
 volley behind me and to be toppled from my 
 saddle in obedience to a signal from Mazeppa ; 
 but I did him an injustice, for he intended me to 
 have this chance of life. 
 
 I would ride straight for Moscow : Mazeppa 
 and his men would know this and would follow 
 upon my heels without the trouble of finding my 
 tracks ; but what cared I ? My pursuers must 
 have good horseflesh between their knees if they 
 would catch Shadrach. 
 
 I must ride fifty leagues before I should be 
 safe : by then I should be in Russian territory 
 and beyond the reach of my pursuers.
 
 MAZEPPA 305 
 
 Away we careered, we with our start of an 
 hour, and at first Shadrach went well ; but before 
 we had gone many leagues I realised that he was 
 not at his best. He sweated and foamed ; his 
 breath laboured, and the exertion, which would 
 have been a trifle to him on another day, dis- 
 tressed him. 
 
 I dismounted and examined the beast. I was 
 prepared for the discovery which I now made : 
 he had been tampered with. Some devil, inspired 
 by a worse devil, of course, must have doctored 
 him in his stable this morning. 
 
 ' Mazeppa,' I said to myself, * this mercy of 
 thine is a deep-laid scheme. This chance of life, 
 for which I thanked thee, is no chance ! ' 
 
 I sat down by the roadside and thought for 
 my life. Shadrach stood by with heaving flanks 
 and head held low ; his eyes dull, his mouth 
 distressed with foam. * You shall carry me to 
 yonder wood,' I said, * and then farewell, old 
 friend, for a while ! ' 
 
 The road, half a league further on, became a 
 rutty forest track, dark overhead, and running 
 through dense rows of large trees. 
 
 I tied Shadrach to a stump, well off the road, 
 first emptying my saddle-bags. There was a coil 
 of thin rope among other things. I never went 
 without this, in case I should require it, in 
 
 x
 
 306 MAZEPPA 
 
 emergency, for halter, spare bridle, or for a 
 thousand possible purposes. It should do me a 
 good turn this day ! 
 
 I now took the rope and fastened it across 
 the track at a few inches above the ground, 
 passing it from tree to tree so that the first horse 
 coming this way must inevitably trip and fall. 
 
 Then I hid myself behind a bush close at 
 hand, and waited.
 
 MAZEPPA 307 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 MY advantage of an hour, if it had been honestly 
 accorded me, must have been greatly shortened 
 by poor Shadrach's malady, for before I had waited 
 half an hour I heard the sound of hoofs, and 
 presently there came in sight Kostigin, one of 
 our Cossacks, mounted upon his splendid horse, 
 which I well knew as one of the few rivals of 
 my Shadrach for speed and endurance. I was 
 sorry to see so fine an animal rushing down to 
 possible injury. If either must be seriously hurt, 
 I would rather it were Kostigin ; but there was 
 no help for it, and the beast must run the risk to 
 earn my safety. 
 
 Nearer came Kostigin, urging his horse. He 
 rode as though he were riding a great race, sitting 
 firm and square and his eyes fixed upon a distant 
 point as though he hoped to catch sight each 
 moment of my fleeting figure. 
 
 Nearer they came, the good horse Ajax 
 breathing audibly, but going strongly. Then of 
 a sudden he reached and tripped over my string- 
 
 X 2
 
 3 o8 MAZEPPA 
 
 trap, and in an instant Kostigin was flying among 
 the trees and poor Ajax rolling over and over 
 among pine needles. 
 
 As for me I was up and upon Kostigin long 
 before he had realised that a calamity had over- 
 taken him. I possessed myself of his sword 
 and stood with it at his throat, and in another 
 moment his career would have ended, for I could 
 not afford to let him go. 
 
 * Do not kill me, Chelminsky,' he cried, c I 
 should not have shot you : there is something, 
 besides, that I can tell you which will be of use 
 to you ! ' 
 
 * That is an easy lie to invent,' I replied 
 grimly. ' You would have shot me, Kostigin, 
 from behind.' 
 
 * I swear I would not,' he said ; * the orders 
 are not to shoot but to chase you. You have 
 been a dupe from the beginning. Mazeppa had 
 planned all this do you think he did not know 
 of your rebellion ? There have been many to 
 keep him informed. The provocation leading to 
 your challenge yesterday and the comedy of this 
 morning all was prepared beforehand.' 
 
 * However that may be, my friend, I must 
 take Ajax, by your kind permission, and indeed 
 I know not how I am to spare your life ' 
 
 { There is another thing : let this buy my life
 
 MAZEPPA 309 
 
 for me. You are to be chased as far as the 
 frontier. Then you are to be taken. Arrange- 
 ments are already made : you will be surrounded 
 and captured, kept for a year, and then escorted 
 to your own home in Volhynia.' 
 
 c Why all this ? ' I laughed. < Why chased 
 and captured and 'cept ? Why not allowed to go 
 to Moscow ? ' 
 
 * As to that, only Mazeppa knows Mazeppa's 
 mind, but so it is. He is jealous maybe, and 
 would rather not have you bargaining with the 
 Tsar Peter against him. More than this I know 
 not any more than yourself.' 
 
 The horse Ajax, meanwhile, had recovered 
 his feet and stood shaking himself at intervals, 
 panting, but apparently unhurt. I felt him up 
 and down ; there was nothing broken. 
 
 c Well, take your life, Kostigin,' I said. ' Ride 
 back and meet the next man ; tell him he were 
 wiser to return with you. You will find 
 Shadrach yonder. Mazeppa shall yet hear of me 
 again tell him so, if you are bold enough. I 
 do not intend to be caught at the frontier. Give 
 me your gun and any money you have so ! 
 Will Mazeppa murder those other fellows, like 
 poor Bedinsky ? ' 
 
 * I do not think so. One had to die for 
 example, he said ; but, saving your dignity, he
 
 3 io MAZEPPA 
 
 does not regard this rebellion as very serious or 
 dangerous, once you are out of the way.' 
 
 4 Well, one day I may return. We shall for 
 ever be rivals, Mazeppa and I ; to-day he wins 
 to-morrow it may be my turn. I think I hear 
 galloping hoofs. I am glad to have spared you, 
 Kostigin, but I shall kill the next that interferes 
 with me. Ride back and tell him so ; I do not 
 mean to be spied upon ! ' 
 
 I mounted Ajax, who was now well breathed. 
 He moved a little stiffly at first, but he was 
 unhurt, and carried me well. A mile away I 
 waited, anxious to know whether I was still 
 pursued ; but I could hear no sound of galloping 
 hoofs, and presently I rode easily forward, con- 
 vinced that Kostigin had argued well, and that 
 the pursuit was over. 
 
 Then I altered my course, and made through 
 forest and waste until I passed in safety into 
 Russian territory. 
 
 But when I was nearing Moscow, riding 
 easily through the forest near Preobrajensky, I 
 met with a very notable adventure, which I must 
 here relate. 
 
 It was very early in the morning of a beautiful 
 summer's day, and as I approached within a 
 league of the Tsar Peter's house, the same at 
 which I had often visited him a year ago or more
 
 MAZEPPA 311 
 
 (when he had caused Mazeppa to compete with 
 me, and had promised that I should one day be 
 Hetman in virtue of the excellence of my horse- 
 manship), I suddenly heard the commotion of 
 galloping hoofs, and looking out I spied furiously 
 riding towards me at frantic speed a half-naked 
 youth, who seemed mad with alarm, and rode 
 blindly forward, scarcely seeing where he went or 
 what he did. 
 
 And to my boundless surprise I recognised 
 this frantic rider for the Tsar Peter himself for 
 him who is at this day known as Piotr Veleeki, 
 Peter the Great ; whose slightest word or frown 
 is feared or hailed by millions of subjects ; the 
 conqueror of Charles of Sweden ; a second Alex- 
 ander the Great ; the maker of a new Russia ; 
 the greatest Russian that God's sun ever shone 
 upon. Dear saints ! when I think of all this and 
 then of that picture of the frightened rider, I 
 console myself with the thought that there 
 are ups and downs for all men, and not only 
 for me ! 
 
 Yes, it was the Tsar Peter himself, dressed in 
 his night-shirt and nothing more, frantic with 
 terror, galloping he knew not whither. 
 
 * Out of the way, there, or you are a dead 
 man ! ' he shrieked. * I will run you through : I 
 swear it clear out of the way ! '
 
 312 MAZEPPA 
 
 I did as the Tsar bade me, but I cried 
 out, * Highness, I am a friend Chelminsky 
 the Cossack. Is there danger ? I am on your 
 side ! ' 
 
 He pulled up. * Yes, it is Chelminsky,' he 
 said, staring at me with wild eyes ; * but how 
 know 1 that you are not for my accursed sister ? ' 
 
 * I was always for thee, Tsar ; my name is in 
 the book at Preobrajensky. I am a soldier of 
 the Pleasure Army ! ' 
 
 * True I remember. Ride with me and I 
 will tell you all. Are you only arriving from 
 Batourin ? Then you know nothing. My sister, 
 whom may the devil claim for his own, has 
 plotted against me. Last night the Kremlin was 
 full of villains assembled and paid by her to 
 murder me. Two good fellows deserted and 
 warned me : by now the rest are skulking 
 around the house at Preobrajensky, unless my 
 fellows have caught them. I should have been 
 murdered but for the warning, thanks and praise 
 be to God the Saviour ! ' The Tsar crossed him- 
 self devoutly. It was a remarkable sight this 
 panic-stricken young giant frightened into prayer, 
 sitting bare-legged upon his horse, in mid-forest. 
 
 I argued with him. I would go forward 
 while he concealed himself. I would fetch clothes 
 for him that was the first need, and bring back
 
 MAZEPPA 313 
 
 word of what happened at the house, which, 
 though fortified and garrisoned very strongly, 
 was not, said the Tsar, prepared for sudden 
 assault. 
 
 At first the Tsar would not tarry until I 
 returned ; but presently, finding a portion of the 
 forest which was so dense that he might safely 
 hide therein without fear of discovery, he con- 
 sented to wait. Then I rode quickly forward and 
 reached Preobrajensky. 
 
 The garrison was in a tumult of preparation 
 in case of attack : every hand was busy, every face 
 haggard and anxious ; but the most anxious of 
 all was that of the Tsar's mother, that good and 
 gentle Tsaritsa Nathalia, who was in distress 
 because of her son's disappearance. 
 
 * He will go to the monastery at Troitsa,' 
 she said, 'and there I shall join him ; but who 
 shall protect him upon the way ? ' Then I told 
 the Tsaritsa how I had seen the Tsar and had re- 
 turned for clothes and for news ; but she informed 
 me that the Tsar's clothes had already followed 
 him, though probably the messenger had been so 
 frightened that he had turned aside from the road 
 rather than meet me. ' Go quickly, good Chel- 
 minsky ! ' she said, * and ride with him. Take 
 others with you I am in dread for my poor 
 boy!'
 
 3 1 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 But when I sought the Tsar in the place 
 where I had left him he was not to be found, so 
 great a coward had sudden terror made of this 
 young lion he who should presently learn to 
 roar so loudly that all the world would be terrified 
 at his voice !
 
 MAZEPPA 315 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 
 I RODE straight to the monastery at Troitsa, 
 hoping to find opportunity for serving the Tsar 
 Peter with distinction. This, it seemed to me, 
 might prove the hour of his destiny, unless indeed 
 terror should have rendered him unfit to assert him- 
 self. But I found matters went strongly for Peter 
 and against Sophia, for there flowed into Troitsa 
 a constant stream of soldiers, some from Preo- 
 brajensky, others Streltsi deserters, some serf 
 soldiers sent in hurriedly by the Boyars who were 
 on Peter's side, and even the newly-enrolled men of 
 Gordon's and Lefort's regiments, upon whom the 
 Regent had depended the most. There would be 
 no fighting, and no opportunity for distinction, 
 for the weight all tilted naturally to one side. 
 
 As for Tsar Peter, after hiding himself for a 
 day or two in the forests, the prey of helpless 
 terror, he found heart of grace and came to 
 Troitsa, from which safe retreat he dictated terms 
 to his sister the Regent, which terms were no
 
 316 MAZEPPA 
 
 terms, indeed, since she herself was now compelled 
 to take the veil, while he possessed himself of 
 the throne, whence from this time he reigned as 
 undisputed Tsar, though Ivan, for a while, made 
 a show of sitting conjointly with his brother upon 
 the highest seat. 
 
 Now that Peter reigned I had great hopes to 
 turn the tables upon Mazeppa. This time surely 
 the luck was mine ! for here was I in Moscow, 
 driven hither, moreover, by Mazeppa himself, 
 just in the nick of time ! Destiny had dealt the 
 good cards into my hands for once, and the old 
 fox, Mazeppa, should be smoked out of his 
 hole! 
 
 Meanwhile I went, not without anxiety, to 
 see my Vera. Mazeppa's words, even though I 
 did not believe them, had been somewhat dis- 
 quieting. Had the Tsar stolen her from me ? 
 Not her heart, indeed I felt sure that that was 
 my own but her hand. If he should have 
 announced his intention to choose her for his 
 bride, what could she have done, with none to 
 help her escape the undesired splendour of 
 this betrothal ? 
 
 I found the house of Boyar Kurbatof, like 
 many another mansion in Moscow during these 
 days, in trouble and disorder the Boyar himself 
 under arrest, Vera almost beside herself with 
 
 .
 
 MAZEPPA 317 
 
 helpless misery, knowing not what she should do 
 or where she should go. 
 
 If I had had any doubt of her good faith 
 towards me, her reception of me when I arrived 
 unexpectedly would have dissipated such doubt. 
 She flew to meet me with a scream of delight and 
 lay for a moment locked in my arms, weeping 
 tears of joy and relief. 
 
 ' Are you mine, Vera, are you mine ? ' I mur- 
 mured. * Tell me quickly ! ' 
 
 * Oh, whose should I be ? ' she whispered 
 back. * Have I ever been other than yours, dear 
 Chelminsky ? ' 
 
 * Not the Tsar's ? ' I said. * It was told me 
 that he would have none but you, and I feared 
 I know not what ; for this Peter is not like that 
 Ivan ! ' 
 
 * I stood well with his Highness,' Vera 
 laughed, ' for three months after you had gone. 
 Then he wearied of me, and Olga Kostromsky 
 was favourite. Then Avdotia Lapouchine appeared, 
 and he is betrothed to her : have you not heard ? ' 
 
 The news relieved me greatly, though I did 
 not tell Vera how much, lest she should think me 
 lacking in the virtue of trustfulness. 
 
 * And what of Mazeppa ? ' I asked. 
 
 Then Vera told me that though Mazeppa 
 upon receiving his nomination as Hetman, had
 
 3 i8 MAZEPPA 
 
 presumed to visit once again the home he had 
 outraged, in order to resume his suit for Vera's 
 hand, the old Boyar her father had caused his 
 servants to expel him from the house without 
 deigning to speak to him or give him any answer 
 to his insolent advances. 
 
 Mazeppa's words to me had conveyed a very 
 different meaning. 
 
 As for the Boyar's arrest, her father had been 
 so indignant, said Vera, over the conduct of Tsar 
 Peter, who had seemed to choose Vera for his 
 bride and had afterwards passed her over for 
 another, that he had violently sided with the 
 Regent so soon as differences arose, lending her 
 money and serf-levies from his estates, which 
 conduct brought about his arrest by Peter's 
 orders, as soon as the young Tsar heard of it. 
 
 Having thus made sure of my Vera, I 
 hastened again to Troitsa in order to push my 
 interest with Tsar Peter ; but his Highness was 
 so busy that I could not obtain his ear. 
 
 * Wait/ he said, c good Chelminsky ; let us 
 first see what I am ; my sister's sins still hang 
 about my neck ! ' 
 
 Therefore I waited a week, and a second week, 
 the Tsar being now in Moscow, and at the end of 
 that time I obtained from Peter the saying that 
 there might soon be reason for making a change
 
 MAZEPPA 319 
 
 in the office of Hetman, and that I should have 
 the next nomination ! 
 
 This was something, though not much. 
 
 Then suddenly, as I walked one day within the 
 Kremlin walls, I met Mazeppa. 
 
 He greeted me friendly, as though there had 
 never been a difference between us, thanking 
 heaven that he had been able at our last meeting 
 to allow me to escape from Batourin : 
 
 * My captains were all dead against mercy,' 
 said he. c I had no easy matter, believe me, to bring 
 them to an agreement concerning thee. Why 
 didst thou rebel against me, Chelminsky ? Canst 
 thou not be happy unless thy head stands higher 
 than my own ? ' 
 
 ' I shall conspire and rebel again, never fear ! ' 
 I laughed. c You have not yet quite done with 
 me, Mazeppa ! As for thy mercy, I think it was 
 a lie : thou wouldst have had me shot or cap- 
 tured. Rather it was thy captains that stayed thy 
 hand ! ' 
 
 * Believe as you will,' he replied angrily ; 
 
 * what is it to me ? Only remember, the Ukraine 
 is not safe for thee in future. Because of thy own 
 foolishness there is no longer room in our country 
 for Mazeppa and for Chelminsky also.' 
 
 * Is Mazeppa among the prophets ? ' I laughed. 
 
 * Neither to me is it given to know the future, my
 
 320 MAZEPPA 
 
 friend, nor to thee. I may yet stand very high 
 among the Cossacks ! ' 
 
 * Think'st thou so ? Hast thou spoken to his 
 Highness as to this foolish ambition of thine ? 
 No ? Then understand that I have been before thee 
 in this matter, and that thou shalt henceforth 
 whine and beg to him in vain, for nothing will 
 come of thy entreaties ! ' 
 
 And indeed, when I at last obtained the 
 Tsar's ear, I found that Mazeppa had been 
 before me, and that in his own mysterious 
 fashion he had not only pleased the Tsar by his 
 manner and bearing (he whom the Tsar had 
 disliked up to now !), but also inspired con- 
 fidence by his political arguments. 
 
 So that when I spoke to the Tsar on the 
 subject of the Hetmanate, he put me somewhat 
 brusquely aside, saying that the present Hetman's 
 attitude was correct and pleasing, and that it 
 would be unnecessary to make any change. 
 
 f But what of thy promises, Tsar ? ' I said 
 bitterly. ' Instead of fulfilling them to my advan- 
 tage, thou has exalted my enemy over my head ! ' 
 
 c Not I, Chelminsky ; thou art suffering, my 
 man, for the deeds of my sister and Galitsin, 
 which should be a glory to thee, seeing that I 
 have suffered and am suffering the same. This 
 
 o 
 
 Mazeppa has shown me, moreover, that he will
 
 MAZEPPA 321 
 
 make as good a Hetman as thou. His speech is 
 the very incarnate genius of the Cossack race ; 
 learn from him awhile, my friend, and in time 
 thou shalt take his place ! ' 
 
 I was bitterly disappointed by the Tsar's 
 conduct, and I doubt not my looks showed it, 
 for he laughed and clapped me upon the shoulder. 
 < Look not so mournful, man ! ' he said. ' On the 
 whole I have done well by thee, for have I not 
 left thee that wench of thine, Vera ? ' The Tsar 
 burst into a roar of laughter, in the midst of 
 which I bowed myself out of his presence, hurt 
 and indignant. 
 
 When I told Vera of my disappointment and 
 of the Tsar's boast that he had left her to me as 
 an act of friendliness, she flushed and told me 
 that he had left her, indeed, to me, but out of no 
 friendliness. * Ask him what befell when he grew 
 more familiar than was pleasing to me ? ' she 
 said. And though I did not ask his Highness, I 
 know now that Vera actually boxed the Tsar's ears 
 on one occasion, thereby immensely raising his 
 respect for her as well as his admiration, though 
 not his affection, which had already begun to 
 wane in favour of others. The Tsar Peter's 
 heart was ever of the butterfly nature, flitting 
 from flower to flower and remaining longest there 
 where most honey is obtainable. 
 
 Y
 
 322 MAZEPPA 
 
 To which respect and admiration of the Tsar 
 Vera added much when presently she went with 
 me to claim forgiveness for her father. 
 
 The Tsar grew angry when Vera proffered 
 her request, but when he made a show of refus- 
 ing it Vera grew angry also. 
 
 * A worthy Tsar, thou ! ' she exclaimed, < that 
 beginnest thy reign by taking vengeance upon 
 old men, and by breaking promises to those who 
 have well served thee ! ' 
 
 { What mean you by that, minx ? ' exclaimed 
 Peter angrily. l May I not punish those who have 
 offended me ? And as for promises, what promise 
 have I made that I will not one day redeem ? ' 
 
 * My father was loyal to the Regent while her 
 Highness claimed the obedience of the Boyars. Is 
 there offence in that ? If thou hadst been reigning 
 Tsar instead of a Tsar in leading-strings, and he 
 had lent thee treasure and men, would that have 
 been a crime ? Up to the moment of thy procla- 
 mation the Boyars were her Highness's men, not 
 thine. To-day my father would serve thee, even 
 as he served the Regent.' 
 
 * Well, we shall see ; it may be that I shall 
 test his loyalty through his purse,' said Peter, 
 laughing. As to the broken promise is this 
 fellow Chelminsky thy husband, that thou 
 shouldst speak thus boldly for him ? '
 
 MAZEPPA 323 
 
 * As forever he has been husband of my heart, 
 let woo who would ! ' said Vera. 
 
 The Tsar flushed and looked for a moment 
 as though he would reply passionately ; but 
 though his face worked and his head jerked 
 round in the manner I have since learned to 
 know as the forerunner of that cruel mood into 
 which he too frequently relapses now in middle 
 age, he recovered himself and laughed aloud. 
 
 * By the Majesty of Saint Cyril, wench,' he 
 said, * thou art a bold one : darest thou marry 
 such a minx, Chelminsky ? ' 
 
 ' I must marry her or die, Tsar,' I said, 
 * wherefore I dare less to marry.' 
 
 Vera laughed and pressed my arm. ' Make 
 him Hetman, Tsar,' she said : c he will serve thee 
 better than the fox thou hast set up.' 
 
 But in this matter the young Tsar was 
 immovable. 
 
 * Good Lord, girl,' he said, ' must all things 
 go as thou wouldst have them ? He shall be 
 Hetman of all the Cossacks now in Moscow 
 does that satisfy thee ? with reversion at Batourin 
 when Mazeppa shall have proved himself the fox 
 you think him ! ' 
 
 And with this appointment, which was indeed 
 an excellent one, I was obliged to remain content, 
 hoping ever that Mazeppa must one day show 
 
 Y2
 
 3 2 4 MAZEPPA 
 
 himself for what I knew him to be. Yet though 
 the Tsar received from far and near almost daily 
 complaints of Mazeppa's deceitfulness how he 
 misruled his Cossacks, coquetted with Pole, 
 Swede and Tartar, and was faithless to every 
 friend he possessed yet Peter, in this one 
 instance, mistook his man from first to last ; 
 believing his word, trusting him in face of over- 
 whelming evidence, and standing his friend and 
 ally through every attempt, whether political or 
 private, to shake his faith in the Hetman. The 
 Tsar was usually a better judge of character than 
 he showed himself in Mazeppa's case ! 
 
 A fox among foxes, and certainly the most 
 plausible liar the world has ever seen, was this 
 fox Mazeppa, with whose cunning my poor 
 feeble wits had lately essayed to cope. And will 
 it be believed that the great and wise Tsar 
 himself was perhaps the only human being who 
 was blind to the real character of the man ? 
 Was he indeed blind ? Rather men will say 
 that if Mazeppa was a fox, Peter was no less ; 
 and that he saw his advantage in being served by 
 such a Hetman ! 
 
 Nevertheless there came a day, after many 
 years, when at length the scales fell from Peter's 
 eyes. For Mazeppa himself at the first great 
 opportunity in his life when he must choose
 
 MAZEPPA 325 
 
 definitely a side proved that he was but a 
 dabbler in politics, and that he no more under- 
 stood the greatness of his master than the rest of 
 the world had then realised it. 
 
 That day was one of those stirring ones which 
 preceded the battle of Pultowa.
 
 326 MAZEPPA 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX 
 
 BY this time Vera and I were both middle- 
 aged, and as happy a married pair as were 
 to be found in all Russia. The old Boyar 
 Kurbatof was dead long since, and Vera was a 
 rich woman, possessor of three thousand souls, or 
 serfs, and the mother of five children. My place 
 in the realm and in the esteem of the Tsar was 
 high, for I commanded almost more Cossacks in 
 Moscow than Mazeppa could assemble under 
 arms at Batourin. 
 
 As for the Tsar Peter, none assuredly would 
 have recognised him at this time for the stripling 
 of Preobrajensky he who had once been wont to 
 take life no more seriously than as a long 
 holiday, to be spent in playing with pleasure 
 armies and toy fleets, in the drinking of much 
 beer and honey-mead, and in rioting with 
 stable youths, and perhaps also with the other sex 
 of that class. 
 
 For see him now the great Autocrat, the 
 genius of a powerful nation, whose incarnate
 
 MAZEPPA 327 
 
 spirit he is ; the rival of Charles of Sweden, with 
 whom he will throw at Pultowa for an^empire. 
 Great he is to-day, and yet how small ! for the 
 taste for debauchery and drunkenness, begun in 
 boyhood, has survived ; and when the Tsar is 
 not busy fashioning his empire within and with- 
 out, upsetting the old Russia and building up the 
 new, showing his greatness here, there, and every- 
 where, he is buffooning, drinking, revealing all 
 that is small and grotesque in his marvellous 
 character, without shame and without reserve, as 
 though he neither knew nor cared to know 
 what is deemed seemly and expedient in civilised 
 societies. 
 
 Yet, though Peter rarely showed the slightest 
 respect for women, his attitude towards Vera was 
 ever most dignified and respectful. He had soon 
 wearied of Avdotia Lapouchine, the Tsaritsa, and 
 had condemned her to take the veil ; but though 
 from that time onwards his relations with women 
 had altogether lacked chivalry, an exception was 
 always made in Vera's favour. As for Mazeppa, 
 I saw him but rarely. And so the years rolled 
 on, until the great day of Pultowa. 
 
 Charles of Sweden had marched within a few 
 days' journey of Moscow, which he might have 
 sacked had he thrown himself immediately against 
 the city ; but when about to do so he received a
 
 328 MAZEPPA 
 
 letter from Mazeppa which caused him to sweep 
 round through Batourin in the Ukraine, Mazeppa's 
 capital, in order to pick up a contingent of fifty 
 thousand lances offered by the Hetman for use 
 against his most faithful and indulgent master, 
 the Tsar. 
 
 For Mazeppa had made the fatal mistake of 
 believing that the sun of the Swede was in the 
 ascendant, whereas the light now reddening in 
 the sky was the dawn of Russia's great day : the 
 day of her New Beginning. 
 
 Now Peter, ignorant of Mazeppa's treachery, 
 had meanwhile sent orders that the Hetman and 
 his fifty thousand men should hold themselves in 
 readiness to join the Russian army at a moment's 
 notice. Mazeppa replied by letter that he was ill 
 of the gout and unable to move. A second 
 missive on the following day, written by a secre- 
 tary, explained that the Hetman was dying, and 
 had already received the last offices of the Church. 
 When he had despatched this last letter, Mazeppa 
 left Batourin with as many of his lances as he could 
 persuade that treachery such as his would prove 
 the best policy about two thousand men. Two 
 thousand dupes out of the promised fifty 
 thousand ! 
 
 * Here is thy chance, Chelminsky,' said Peter 
 the Tsar. c Thou hast waited long. Mazeppa is
 
 MAZEPPA 329 
 
 dead or dying ; his lances want a leader : Men- 
 shikof shall ride with thy Cossacks, and thou shalt 
 be Hetman of the Ukraine.' 
 
 But I was devoted by this time to my own 
 Cossacks, and preferred to remain by the Tsar's 
 side. 
 
 'Let me wait and see these Ukraine Cossacks 
 what Mazeppa has made of them,' said I. 'Better 
 my own, who are used to me, than his, Tsar, 
 when it comes to fighting ! In any case, I will 
 have only thee for master, whether there or 
 here ! ' 
 
 But when Peter with his army reached 
 Batourin, he found that the old fox had left his 
 hole. 
 
 The rage of the Tsar when he learned that 
 Mazeppa had proved a traitor was dreadful to 
 witness. He fell writhing in a fit, his head and 
 limbs jerking, his face contorted. When he re- 
 covered, he bade Menshikof and his troops throw 
 themselves upon city and castle, burning the 
 place with all it contained ; then, having caused 
 an effigy of Mazeppa to be fashioned, he first 
 hanged it in public and afterwards had it dragged 
 through the filth of the streets. Every year 
 since that day Mazeppa's name is cursed through- 
 out Russia upon the Day of Curses, which is. the 
 first Sunday of the long Fast.
 
 330 MAZEPPA 
 
 But the delay caused by Mazeppa's adhesion 
 cost the Swedish forces dear, for it compelled 
 them to winter in Russia, and by means of sundry 
 small successes the armies of Peter began to 
 render their position dangerous. 
 
 Then Mazeppa actually wrote to the Tsar 
 proposing to deliver both Charles and his armies 
 into his hands ; but Peter would have none of 
 him and his promises, fearing more treachery. 
 Instead, the Tsar replied to Mazeppa with shame- 
 ful words, saying that he would presently have 
 both Charles and Mazeppa also. 
 
 And in the summer came the great day, when 
 Charles and his dwindled and hungry army, and 
 with him Mazeppa and his Cossacks poor 
 deluded men attacked the Tsar at Pultowa. 
 
 All the world knows of that great battle ; how 
 the star of Charles fell for ever and that of Peter 
 rose, never to set. How Charles fled with a few 
 men and with Mazeppa, who preserved his own 
 skin intact and tried to spirit away with him, 
 moreover, two barrels of gold pieces which he 
 had taken care to secure. 
 
 Yet it must not be said that Mazeppa fought 
 ill on that day. Never did men fight more 
 desperately than our good Cossack fools who had 
 followed the old fox into ruin. Once the Tsar, 
 riding near me at the moment, bade me watch
 
 MAZEPPA 331 
 
 the old Hetman charge with his fellows. By the 
 saints, the sight did one good, even though they 
 were against us ! 
 
 ' Curse him ! ' cried Peter, c his lances kill three 
 to every one of them that falls. Take a thousand 
 of our Cossacks, Chelminsky, and chase the 
 rascals into the Vorskla ! Bring me Mazeppa 
 alive, and by all the devils I will make thee head 
 over every Cossack that breathes ! ' 
 
 That was a notable fight. At the first charge, 
 the numbers being in our favour, not a man fell 
 on either side, for neither were our fellows willing 
 to slay their brethren, nor they us ; but ours, as 
 they rode through the others' ranks, hurled 
 reproaches and shameful names at them and at 
 Mazeppa for their treachery, so that when we 
 turned to charge back again Mazeppa's men were 
 furious and fought like devils, and many scores of 
 saddles were emptied on both sides. 
 
 As for me, I had a pass or two with Mazeppa 
 in the crowd, but neither of us struck his best. 
 
 * Ride out of the crush, Mazeppa, and I will 
 follow,' I said. * I must seem to pursue thee, 
 but for God's sake let me not bring thee alive 
 into the Tsar's hands, as he would have me do, 
 for thou shalt be torn limb from limb.' 
 
 c Kill me, then, if thou must, Chelminsky, for 
 all is lost ! ' he said. * Thou hast won in the end,
 
 332 MAZEPPA 
 
 but we have run a good race through life, thou 
 and I !' 
 
 * Ride like the devil, man ! ' I said. ' I will 
 not either kill thee or take thee, but I must seem 
 to strike at thee.' 
 
 * Chelminsky,' cried Mazeppa, as his horse 
 galloped a few paces ahead of my own, { I swear 
 I have been a better friend to thee than to any 
 living soul on this earth. Three times I might 
 have ' 
 
 But I interrupted him. { Ride, you fool,' I 
 said ; * the Tsar watches ! ' 
 
 And at this moment, my horse stumbling 
 over a fallen soldier, Mazeppa's took a good lead ; 
 and though I made a show of following out of 
 sight, I returned to Peter's anger and dis- 
 appointment without my quarry.
 
 MAZEPPA 333 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 BUT one more scene, and I have finished. 
 
 The Tsar's anger against Mazeppa did not end 
 with the victory of Pultowa. Mazeppa had escaped 
 into the territory of the Sultan, and the Tsar 
 actually sent a mission into Turkey offering an im- 
 mense sum for the surrender of his person, alive. 
 
 Now in this matter, as in my pursuit of 
 Mazeppa on the battle-field, I played the Tsar 
 false ; for, in spite of all I had suffered from the 
 old fox during the long years of our rivalry, I 
 could not see him brought living into the hands 
 of this most ruthless, most savage, most relent- 
 less of enemies, Piotr Alexeyevitch. 
 
 Therefore, breathing hatred and vengeance 
 against my old rival, I besought the Tsar to allow 
 me to be of the mission, and easily obtained his 
 consent. 
 
 With me went a certain young Kotchubey, a 
 deadly enemy of Mazeppa, and another, Kozlof, 
 who loved him no better. 
 
 We found Mazeppa in the old ruined mansion
 
 334 MAZEPPA 
 
 of a Pasha, lent to him by the Sultan, who in- 
 dignantly refused to listen to the offer of the 
 Tsar. Then we of the Tsar's embassy took 
 counsel together. * If the Sultan will not let us 
 have the rascal, we must persuade Mazeppa,' said 
 Kozlof, ' that the Tsar will restore to him his 
 favour and the office of Hetman in return for 
 certain secrets concerning the Swedish King which 
 it is necessary that the Tsar should know.' 
 
 I made a show of applauding this suggestion. 
 
 1 But who shall persuade him ? ' I laughed. * I 
 think he will suspect thee, Kozlof, and certainly 
 Kotchubey. He and I have been life-long 
 enemies, true, but I complimented him on his 
 fighting at Pultowa, while smiting at him, and it 
 may be that he will believe in my good will.' 
 
 Thus I was allowed to undertake the mission. 
 
 I found Mazeppa old and broken down. He 
 shed tears when he found it was I that had come. 
 
 'Thou wert like God to me on the battle- 
 field, Chelminsky,' he said. f This mission can 
 be to no evil end, since thou art of it.' 
 
 * Mazeppa,' I said, f God knows why I 
 befriend thee, unless it be that I remember too 
 well the old days, before thy turning against me. 
 It may be that my Vera has softened my 
 heart ' 
 
 At her name Mazeppa wept and crossed himself.
 
 MAZEPPA 335 
 
 * That is a saint ! ' he said. { Lord forgive 
 me, I would have done her ill ! Thou hadst the 
 best of me there, Chelminsky, and so much the 
 happier am I to-day ! Dost know that, if it had 
 been any but thou, I should have killed thee 
 three times ? ' he added. * Therefore think not too 
 ill of me.' 
 
 'And why, then, was I spared,' said I, with a 
 laugh, c since thou hast never lacked of thy will for 
 fastidiousness ? ' 
 
 1 Well,' he said, ' I will tell thee : I have 
 called thee fool and browbeaten thee, ay, and all 
 but ruined and murdered thee. Nay, I have 
 from time to time hated thee with all my soul ; 
 yet, throughout I have after a fashion liked thee 
 too well to destroy thee, and in the end I have 
 always remembered that we two fought those 
 three at Ivan Casimir's Court, and how thou didst 
 ride after me when they stripped and bound me, 
 curse them ! ' 
 
 ' Then here I repay you with a last service,' I 
 said. ' Be not deceived by my companions, 
 Mazeppa ; our mission is to bring you alive to 
 the Tsar. They will persuade you, as I am now 
 supposed to be persuading you, that Peter will 
 restore to you your office, if you will reveal 
 certain secrets as to the King of Sweden. Do 
 not be persuaded/
 
 336 MAZEPPA 
 
 ' Am I a fool, Chelminsky ? ' he laughed. 
 
 * Thou hast called me fox many times ; be sure I 
 have not changed my skin/ 
 
 Then, but a day later, Mazeppa lay dead 
 within the Pasha's mansion, and Kozlof threw a 
 phial into the stove in my presence. 
 
 * The old devil would not believe my tale,' 
 he said, ' but threatened to spit me with his 
 sword : that was last night. Some of the stuff 
 from this phial made a rare flavour to his sauce 
 this morning ! If the Tsar has failed in his 
 vengeance Kotchubey has not, neither have I.' 
 
 { What have you done, Kozlof ? ' said I, aghast. 
 
 * Have you murdered him in cold blood ? ' 
 
 * Call it what you like ! ' he laughed. * He 
 betrayed Kotchubey's sister and executed her 
 parents, and my father was beheaded by his 
 orders.' 
 
 But the people say that Mazeppa died of a 
 broken heart. 
 
 His body was brought to Galatz on the 
 Danube, where he was buried like a true 
 Cossack within earshot of the rush of a great 
 river. His bones might not lie beside the 
 Dnieper, beloved of Cossacks, because of his 
 treachery towards his Russian master, who 
 became henceforward absolute lord of all the 
 Cossacks' territory.
 
 MAZEPPA 337 
 
 * What shall I say of Mazeppa,' I asked my 
 Vera, * that shall end my record both kindly and 
 yet consistently ? ' For it was Vera who bade me 
 write the tale of our friendship and rivalry, our 
 hatred and our reconciliation. 
 
 * I would have you write,' she laughed, ' that 
 Mazeppa was very plausible, yet very transparent ; 
 hated by most men, adored by many women ; 
 that he was brave and also cowardly; impassioned 
 and fascinating, yet mean and repulsive ; he was 
 half man and half devil. The Tsar Peter is also 
 both devil and man, but he is great. Mazeppa 
 was only great while men did not discern how 
 small he was. Say,' Vera ended, * as you are fond 
 of saying, that " he was a fox." 
 
 THE END 
 
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