He said he always had understood we were a free people, but, "without meaning any disrespect to you, sir, throwing stones at your consul's coat of arms is almost, as you might say, sir, making too free." He then told us Colonel Swalm lived in the suburbs, and in a taxicab started us toward him.
Scantily but decorously clad, Colonel Swalm received us, and greeted us as courteously as though we had come to present him with a loving-cup.

He acted as though our pulling him out of bed at two in the morning was intended as a compliment.

For affixing the seal to our passports he refused any fee.

We protested that the consuls-general of other nations were demanding fees.

"I know," he said, "but I have never thought it right to fine a man for being an American." Of our ambassadors and representatives in countries in Europe other than France and Belgium I have not written, because during this war I have not visited those countries.