"What's the matter?" he asked.
Listing lied fluently: "He fell down the dormitory stairs, sir, just a little while ago, when the wind had blown out the lamp."
"Indeed!" said the officer in charge. "Is he badly hurt?"
"No, sir," answered Vogt.
"Then off to bed!"
Vogt and Klitzing were the last to leave Room IX. Klitzing went silently along by his wounded comrade and looked at him timidly.
"Does it hurt, Franz?" he asked on the stairs.
Vogt began hesitatingly: "Well, you know----" but then when he saw his friend's sad eyes he continued: "Oh, no; it's not a bit bad."
Tears stood in the clerk's eyes.
"Franz, what a dear good fellow you are!" he said softly. "I don't know how I can thank you; but never doubt that I shall thank you some time."