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He would settle himself anew by the stove, watching his young wife, whose quick, clever hands were busy with baby-clothes; and at such moments, tired by an honest day's work, Heppner felt himself to be a thoroughly good fellow. During the course of the summer, Albina Worzuba had been brought home as a bride by Deputy sergeant-major Heimert, to the Schumanns' old quarters next door.
The corporal gazed after him in astonishment. Was the sergeant-major asleep or awake? He had staggered past with wide-open, staring eyes, like a sleep-walker. Perhaps he was simply drunk. In the passage Heimert came to meet him. He looked distraught, as though just awakened out of sleep. He beckoned Heppner into the kitchen. Heppner entered and shut the door behind him.
Heppner, on the contrary, who appeared to listen with interest, rose in her favour, and in answer to his questions she launched still further into detail. And now she looked at him more closely, and took his measure with those bright eyes of hers.
He would set about it quite quietly, so as to avoid the gossip; but between men such an injury must mean a duel. The officers always acted on that principle, and what was right for them must be right for the non-coms., who also wore swords at their sides. But all the ceremonial of a court of honour and seconds was not necessary among common folk like Heppner and himself.
Some days later Wegstetten asked him: "How is the one-year volunteer Trautvetter behaving? I have been quite pleased with him on duty these last few days." And Heppner answered: "He has been much more steady, sir; there has been no fault to find with him." The commander of the battery nodded, well pleased. "You see, sergeant," he said, "my plan has been a success.
But if Heppner pointed this out to him, he would flourish the notes-of-hand under the sergeant-major's nose and threaten to lay them before Wegstetten. Heppner could think of no other way of escape than the chance of a sudden stroke of luck. Of course, however, he needed money in order to go on playing. He himself had no more, and nobody would lend to him.
Neither did they notice that a long, oppressive silence had fallen on them, that the lamp was burning low, and the room darkening. At last Heimert drew out his watch. "It's time to go to bed," he said; "we've got to get up to-morrow morning." Heppner and Albina awoke suddenly from their entranced condition, and the sergeant-major hastened to say good night. Quickly Albina prepared for bed.
Then he pushed his plate away, tossed off two glasses of beer, and lay down to rest in the bedroom. The two sisters remained together, the invalid stretched on the sofa, the other sewing near the lamp. They heard Heppner snoring. His wife's face was in shadow, but her eyes blazed at her sister and rested with an uncanny expression of hatred on the strong, well-developed beauty of the young girl.
He had never been able to endure this sickly fellow, but, by Jove, what he had done that day was first-class! It was grand! Would he never recover from his swoon? Heppner took a brandy-flask from his saddle-bag, and gently moistened the gunner's forehead with the spirit. He tried to force a drop between his lips, but in vain; there was no sound or movement in response.
And Trautvetter wrote him an I.O.U. for one hundred and fifty marks. Heppner took the money, and when Wegstetten came into the orderly-room he found the sergeant-major counting over his cash. This event made a powerful impression on the one-year volunteer. From the moment when Heppner had lain grovelling on the ground before him a thorough change came over Trautvetter.
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