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Updated: September 13, 2025
For Wegstetten had a cousin, about seven times removed, who was something of a celebrity, not so much on account of his martial exploits as because he was ninety-eight years of age, the oldest soldier in the army, and a former adjutant-general of his late Majesty.
The colonel, Major Schrader, and Captain von Wegstetten unanimously decided to hush up the affair, in view of the certain censure of the higher authorities; and Schrader replaced the missing sum without more ado. Heppner's gambling companions were seriously warned.
He quickly laid his bundle of clothes upon a chair, and at once helped to take off Reimer's helmet, shoulder-belt, and scarf. The officer smiled at such excessive zeal. "How is it that you are so well up in this work?" "I was for a time servant to Captain von Wegstetten, sir." "Indeed? And why did you leave him?"
He walked in silence beside Wegstetten, who was speaking to him earnestly the while. At the door of the court-house the old man stood still and saluted, meaning to take leave of the captain. Then the officer asked him: "Would you not like to speak to your son? I will get you a permit." "Thank you, sir," said the turnpike-keeper, "if you would have the kindness, sir." This was soon done.
At last he fell back on the cash-box of the battery. From time to time he replaced a portion of what he had taken, but the deficit nevertheless became greater and greater. One morning, in the beginning of August, Wegstetten said to him: "Sergeant Heppner, have the one-year volunteers paid their board-money?" "Yes, sir." "All right. Then get your cash-box ready for settling up accounts.
The fourth battery had just brought its six guns up to the gate; the fifth had not stirred as yet Captain Mohr was not fond of duty so soon after dinner; and now his own battery, the sixth, arrived on the ground to perform foot-drill. The ornaments on the helmets shimmered in the sun, and he almost fancied he could hear the even tread. Wegstetten and the two lieutenants were behind.
Wegstetten glanced at his watch. "Well, I'm sorry I can't stop any longer now, for I must go back to the riding-school again. So good-bye, my dear fellow. But let me say once more how glad I am to have a man who has really smelt powder. They are only to be found among colonels and generals as a rule nowadays."
Wegstetten exchanged a few words with the superintendent of the military prison and returned with the pass. He himself conducted the old man to the gate of the prison building. "Don't take all this too hard, Herr Vogt," he said in farewell. "Your son has committed an excusable offence, and has been very severely but not unjustly punished. He remains an honourable soldier all the same."
But when this "yes" did not appear to be forthcoming, all eyes were suddenly fixed upon Vogt. "No," said he firmly. The president looked amazed. "You cannot have understood me," he said. "I asked you if you were not sorry for your conduct?" But the answer came, clear and decided: "No, I cannot be sorry." Every one present looked dumfounded. Wegstetten thrust his sword angrily against the ground.
Captain von Wegstetten sometimes took himself to task. He could not but be pleased with his sergeant-major, and yet he could not quite overcome the antipathy he had hitherto felt for Heppner. The certain degree of intimacy that otherwise might be expected to arise from their common care of the new recruits appeared to him quite impossible.
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