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 of a Pasha, lent to him by the Sultan, who indignantly 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.
‘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. ‘This mission can be to no evil end, since thou art of it.’
‘Mazeppa,’ I said, ‘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.
‘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.’