But it was now too late to carry out my intention of going to see Vera, therefore I changed my mind and paid Mazeppa a visit instead.
We spoke of the bride-choosing, and I asked Mazeppa whether anything had been heard of Vera.
‘Not a word,’ said he, ‘unless it was you that heard it!’
‘And wherefore I?’ I asked in assumed surprise.
‘Only that you have doubtless made inquiries, and I was in hopes you might have heard something of her.’
‘Tell me, Mazeppa, do you suspect me of concealing anything from you in this matter? Do you believe me to be less honest with you than you are—I doubt not—towards me?’
‘Suspect you, my best of friends?’ exclaimed Mazeppa. ‘Heaven forbid! Why do you ask so foolish a question?’
‘Well, I have a reason. You must know that as I walked out this day I became aware that I was dogged by some unknown rascal, and I must confess that the idea did occur to me that for some reason unguessed by me you had set a watch upon my goings. Now that I reflect upon the matter, I see that the suspicion was foolish and baseless. Yet who should have set the rascal to spy upon me, and why?’
‘That is impossible to guess; but at any rate do not suspect your oldest friend,’ said Mazeppa. ‘Could you not compel the fellow to declare himself?’
‘A man must be caught before he is compelled,’ I laughed, ‘as a hare must be trapped before he is stewed; and like a hare indeed the fellow ran.’