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, 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 enterprise—the fox! If only I could overtake the 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 dormése 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 I must soon cease to move even as rapidly as now, for I was utterly exhausted.