Franz Fiedler

A gambling-drama based on Dostoevsky’s works: The retired General Kirileff is addicted to gambling and also has a costly affair. He takes out a loan from the greedy imposter Vincent, for which he is to pay an exorbitant interest rate. Vincent, for his part, wants to get closer to Kirileff’s daughter Nina, who is to inherit her grandmother’s fortune one day. Nina tries to help her father and goes to the gambling tables, only to lose a lot of money. She asks Alexej, her father’s secretary, to play for her. Alexej is in love with Nina and would do anything for her. He plays; at first loses; then asks Nina to get Vincent out of there. Once that happens, he wins a large amount of money, becomes overbearing and treats Nina like a prostitute.

"A woman must forgive everything"- Brunhilde's parents expects her to marry Mr. Kuhn. To avoid this Brunhilde makes plans with her lover and piano teacher. She will wear the ugliest possible dress and sing horribly when she meets with Kuhn.

A man in bad sorts hires a burglar to later kill him, then changes his mind when his fortunes turn and must find the contracted murderer before it is too late.

The short story focuses on two anecdotal episodes about the Prussian King Frederick II. In the first episode, the monarch meets an invalid. In the second episode, Baron Warkotsch's servant informs the king that Kappel's master is committing treason against the Prussian king, which puts Frederick's life in grave danger.