he neighbouring quarters, and found
the deputy sergeant-major gazing at a cabinet photograph of his
betrothed. Heimert, startled, tried quickly to hide the portrait; but
Heppner begged to see it.

He had expected to see a girl,--well, something like his wife, or
perhaps uglier, for surely it would be impossible for any one else to
fall in love with Heimert; but as he took the picture in his hand an
involuntary expression of surprise escaped him: "By Jove! Isn't she
beautiful!"

From that moment he was always asking Heimert to take him with him to
see his sweetheart.

"Why?" Heimert asked suspiciously. "Do you want to cut me out with
her?"

Heppner laughed at him. "The devil!" he said. "I have two women in the
house myself, and that's more than enough. Surely one may make the
acquaintance of a comrade's sweetheart?"

"And," he added craftily, "have you so little confidence in her, then?"

Heimert burst out: "Oh, that's not the reason!"

"Well then," said the other, "you know you won't be able to lock her up
and hide her when she is your wife. Where's the harm in my just saying
good-day to her?"

The deputy sergeant-major was forced to agree that there was really
nothing against it. Moreover he was rather proud of having won such a
beautiful girl; he enjoyed seeing the sergeant-major's envious eyes;
and finally he said he would take him to Grundmann's the following
Monday. Grundmann was the name of the landlord of the tavern in which
Albina was barmaid; and as on Monday business there was at its
slackest, they might hope to exchange a few quiet words with the
girl.

On the Monday evening appointed he met Heppner on the parade-ground.

Heimert had made himself as smart as possible. He had put on his new
extra uniform, which he had meant to keep for his wedding, and had
forced his big hands into shiny white kid gloves. The collar of his
tunic was very high, and so tight that he could hardly turn his head.
Heppner, on the other hand, had only put on his best undress uniform.
He was in a very good temper and very talkative, whereas Heimert walked
beside him depressed and silent.

They arrived at Grundmann's very opportunely. They were the only
guests, and the landlord had no objection to Albina's sitting at their
table with them.

Heppner chose a place from which he could gaze undisturbed at the
girl's profile. She pleased him. She was just to his taste, this
full-bosomed girl with salient hips and rounded ar