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 destiny at Batourin, and I spent my time in diligently 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, ‘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—presently show himself the young lion awake, and would lustily roar and go forth to kill for himself.’
‘Go on,’ I said hastily, ‘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——’