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.

Michael Lutz and his fiancée Barbara want to spend their vacation on a quiet island in the Danube, hoping to finally have some time to themselves. And who do they run into there? None other than Mr. Bruckmann, Barbara's boss. He hadn't planned on ending up on the island at all; he only wanted to take a boat trip with his partner, Consul Hansens, and the latter's pretty daughter, Gwen. Bruckmann and Gwen are on the verge of falling in love, which the consul would find extremely pleasing. Now they're all stranded on the island together, without money, papers, or clothes.

Irene is unhappy because her lawyer husband Dr. Leuttern never has time for her. Womanizer Mac Norris slyly benefits from her depression and lures her to his apartment. As she struggles to fend him off a shot is fired and Mac collapses.