The famous American pianist, Hans Martenrood, is playing for the first time in Europe. A young boy is waiting for him in his hotel room after the concert with a letter from his mother, Marie, which explains, that Hans is the father of the boy and that she believes he would be better off being with his father. A short time later, Marie is found in a hotel room, critically wounded by two gunshots. Detective During is put to work on the case. He arrests a suspect, who is identified by the maid and porter as being Marie’s last visitor. At first, the man says nothing; but then he tells the detective Marie’s story.