Some were eating sausage and drinking beer, and there was plenty of talk, mostly in German.
John modestly found a place near the fire for which he was very grateful, and ordered beer and cheese.

Apparently he was nothing but a peasant going about his own humble business, but he listened keenly to everything that was said, reckoning that someone ultimately would mention the Prince of Auersperg, or could be drawn into speaking of a man of so much consequence who might be present in Metz.
He attracted little attention, as he sat warming himself before the fire and listening.

People of French sympathies might be in the crowd, but if so they were silent, because nearly all the talkers were speaking of German success.

It was true that they had been turned back from Paris, but it meant a delay only, they would soon advance again, and this time they would crush France.

Meantime, von Hindenburg was smashing the Russians to pieces.