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 beautiful, 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 I ask this of her by design and for her advantage.’
‘For her advantage?’ I exclaimed. ‘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; ‘let her come. I am chosen as one of those who are to weed out the unsuitable, that they may be despatched to their 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.
CHAPTER XVII
I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.