‘Which is Chelminsky?’ asked the Hetman, and learning that it was I, ‘What, the son of our good captain, under Hmelnisky?’ he asked with interest.
I blushed, and said that so it was.
‘Then I say that none have a better right to demand service among us here,’ said he, taking me by the hand. ‘You shall find a good friend in me, my man,’ he added kindly, ‘and if you are like your father we shall be glad of you indeed! I do not know your name, Pan Mazeppa, but you seem to be one who goes with his eyes open.’
‘You will find that Mazeppa’s eyes never shut, Hetman,’ I said; ‘be wise and take him into your special service. He can do many things besides ride and use a sword, in which common accomplishments he excels.’
‘Is he a gramatny?’ asked the Hetman. ‘Can he write and read?’
‘I am as much clerk as soldier,’ said Mazeppa, ‘and I know figures.’
‘Come, then, that falls in well for both of us,’ said the Hetman, ‘for my peesar (secretary) died but a week since, and all these fellows—though they are devils to fight and can write well with their swords upon the body of an enemy—can wield a pen no more than ply a needle. You shall be tried, sir, as peesar, and you, Chelminsky, shall remain soldier.’
Thus Mazeppa first received employment in the country of which he was destined to be the greatest of all, by virtue of his friendship with myself—a matter which has given me cause for many reflections and for some laughter. I to have been Mazeppa’s godfather in Cossack-land! and he to have owed his first advancement to me! Lord! how oddly things happen in this world.
As young men and leaders, for so we soon became, we did well among our equals at the Hetman’s Court, and presently stood high in Doroshenko’s favour.
With the ladies Mazeppa was ever popular: fickle and inconstant as water was he, yet having some quality of attractiveness which drew female hearts to him in spite of the fate which—it was to be seen—would surely overtake those who trusted him. It may be that women did not take him seriously, as at this time he certainly did not take them. At any rate, he ever stood well with them. With the men he was not so popular, though, for some reason, they seldom quarrelled with him. When they did so they fared ill, for if it came to swords Mazeppa was as skilful as any, and rarely received so liberally as he gave; while if matters went before the Hetman, then Mazeppa’s tongue easily gained him the victory, however weak his cause, for in craftiness and cleverness he was the superior of all, and it so happened that those who offended him came invariably to ill either immediately or soon, and either upon one plea or another, so that men began to fear Mazeppa.