At Coblenz they were servile, cringing, fawning, ready to lick the boots of the Americans, loading them with offers of every food and drink and joy they had.

Thus they began.

Soon, finding that the Americans did not cut their throats, burn their houses, rape their daughters, or bayonet their babies, but were quiet, civil, disciplined, and apparently harmless, they changed.

Their fawning faded away, they scowled and muttered.

One day the Burgomaster at a certain place replied to some ordinary requisitions with an arrogant refusal.
It was quite out of the question, he said, to comply with any such ridiculous demands.