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.’
‘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.