More than a hundred marks was missing from the box. Time pressed; Wegstetten might be back again in half an hour. He went to find Heimert. Heimert was no friend to him, he knew; but he had always been a good comrade.
The deputy sergeant-major was away at the big parade-ground with the pioneers. That was half-an-hour's distance.
Trautvetter, where was Trautvetter?
At last he discovered him in the canteen.
"Trautvetter, you must lend me a hundred marks!" said the sergeant-major breathlessly.
"Must?" asked the one-year volunteer sarcastically. "Must? Not if I know it!"
Heppner had dragged him out of the canteen into the empty vestibule.
"Yes, yes, you must, Trautvetter!" he repeated.
Trautvetter now perceived the disturbed mien of the sergeant-major. Something very particular must have happened, that was clear; and in such case he could not refuse to help. For it was no part of his plan to push this man to extremity.
"What's up?" he asked.