The man in the background

The guests at Count Otto von Trepows East Prussian estate GrossEhrenfeld are Lord and Lady Ruthven Mr Hendriks with his wife and fosterdaughter Mariska a gypsy they adopted years ago Kundry the fiancée of Ottos son Bernhard and Count Stanislaus Larinski who claims to be a Polish revolutionary wanted by the Russian government A boating trip is organized but ends when the motor breaks down While waiting for it to be repaired the guests go to an inn run by Andreas and his daughter Käthe Hendriks goes for a walk sees the boat come back and that a man with a bent back leaves it He notices that Kundry is afraid of Bernhard