The lady would inform us whenever these absences were to take place, when Mazeppa or I would be sure to appear, and sometimes both of us together, in order to lighten for her the creeping hours of separation from her husband.
I know not whether someone played us false, some messenger or servant at Falbofsky’s house, but it is certain that one day Falbofsky got wind of our habit of profiting by his absence, for he played us a pretty trick.
We each received, as usual, intimation that Madame would receive visitors upon a certain day and at a certain hour, and as usual, too, both Mazeppa and I strained every nerve to get the better of one another by arriving first, in order to enjoy the society of the lady for awhile before the other should come to destroy the delights of undisturbed possession. On this occasion I had the advantage of Mazeppa, it appeared, being half an hour in advance of my rival, a fact which I discovered by falling first into the ambush prepared for us by the angry husband, who, having smelt a rat or having received warning, lay in wait for us at a lonely spot in the forest, accompanied by half a dozen stout retainers.
A couple of these pounced out from their hiding-place before I had realised that I was attacked, and seized my reins.
I imagined that I had to do with robbers, and hit out so lustily with my fist that one of my fellows dropped the bridle and fell. But others rushed out and pulled me from the saddle. My horse galloped away, leaving me in their hands. Then I realised that I had to do with Falbofsky.
‘Gag him,’ he said, ‘and tie him to a tree meanwhile, lest he make a noise and warn the other rascal.’
‘So Mazeppa is still expected,’ I thought. It would be like his cunning, however, if he should have obtained information of this ambush and had stayed away, or maybe gone round by a longer road. Mazeppa was ever the most subtle of mortal men—a very fox, indeed.
‘Falbofsky, let us fight it out like men,’ I said. He took no notice of my words.
‘Do you hear?’ he repeated. ‘Gag him, and tie him to a tree; his fool of a horse has run away, or——’
I knew not what he was going to say, though, knowing what I now know, I have no doubt he intended to treat me as he presently treated Mazeppa. Thanks to my good horse, who was cleverer than I, and escaped, he was unable to have his will. I interrupted him.