The owner of the Hotel Splendide is experiencing great success. His hotel hosts opulent banquets, famous clientele use its services, and the owner has generated a great source of wealth. Despite this success, the owner is looking for a personal servant. He takes a drive alongside the river and sees a poor violinist. He gives the musician 5 dollars and is shocked by the lack of gratitude expressed on the musician's face. The man talks to the violinist and learns he is a German called Joseph Lustgarten. The owner, impressed by the musician's playing, asks him to be his assistant. Lustgarten, desperate for money, agrees. The musician becomes the perfect assistant. He tends to the owner's every need, talks about the daily gossip, and lives in the man's living room. One night, the owner invites his acquaintance, Count Von Trautmannsdorff, to his room. Lustgarten immediately focuses his attention on the Count, which angers the owner. After the Count leaves, the musician begins soliciting business from other people. Eventually, the musician starts to tailor other people's clothing in the owner's room. The musician's behavior causes the owner to snap and yell at the musician. After the outburst, the musician leaves the apartment and never returns. A while later, the owner receives a letter from the musician and discovers that Lustgarten is working as an assistant for Count Von Trautmannsdorff. In the letter, the musician reveals he enjoyed working for the owner and is forever thankful for the opportunities the owner gave him.