The story revolves around a group of travelers stranded at an inn during the Franco-Prussian War. A courtesan, known for her beauty and promiscuity, joins them, and they demand she have sex with German soldiers in exchange for their protection. She refuses, leading to a confrontation that ultimately results in her being ostracized by the group.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1880 · Genre: Realism, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary