Milena von Eckhardt

Old Karl Knesebeck has long been head waiter and rules his waiters with an iron fist at the hotel. When the business passes into the hands of the heirs after the owner's death, he's in a difficult position. The unscrupulous Alwin makes advances toward Niddy, the owner's daughter, whose well-being Knesebeck watches over like a father. Alwin demotes the old man to toilet attendant – a tragedy that Knesebeck tries to salvage, especially since Niddy is about to marry Alwin and another man would actually be better for her...

When the dancer Carmen visits the bullfighter Antonio, who has stabbed a gypsy, in prison, she meets the dragoon brigadier José. The two immediately take a liking to each other, and from that day on, José often visits the café where Carmen dances. When Carmen injures another dancer in a jealous quarrel, José is ordered to arrest her...

During the 1913 carnival, a man is stabbed to death in the confessional of Mainz Cathedral: Ferdinand Dörfler was the illegitimate son of the businessman Panezza, who never confessed to him. Ferdinand's brother Clemens is accused of fratricide by his own mother. The young Viola, who had come to Mainz from Italy, makes a confession: she loved Ferdinand and had been abandoned by him. Lolfo, who was unconditionally devoted to her, pursued Ferdinand and killed him. Lolfo commits suicide.