When citizens of a small Flemish town under the occupation of Spain discover that Spanish soldiers, led by a prominent duke (Jean Murat), will be staying overnight in their hamlet, panic ensues in anticipation of violence and cruel behavior. While the town mayor, Korbus de Witte (Alerme), opts to play dead to avoid a confrontation, his clever wife, Cornelia (Francoise Rosay), decides to distract their potentially problematic visitors with kindness and entertainment.