Der Schleier

Schleier, Der, a Novelle by E. Strauß, published in 1920. In 1931 it was included in a collection entitled Der Schleier. Freiherr von Tettingen, a happy family man with a devoted wife, is bewitched by the beautiful young Countess Ittendorf; yielding to temptation the two meet regularly at his hunting lodge. Freifrau von Tettingen, suspecting unfaithfulness, visits the lodge at night and finds the lovers asleep together. The sight of the peaceful couple dispels jealousy and anger; she leaves quietly, having covered them with her veil. The Countess and Tettingen awake, recognize the situation, and part for ever. Tettingen finds forgiveness with his wife, to whom he returns the veil which had been his first present for her.

The theme of the veil resumes a motif from one of Bassompierre's tales adapted by Goethe in Unterhaltungen deutscher Ausgewanderten. Strauß's delicate presentation is executed in the classical manner.