Dearest Kietz,
Your news, which I received only last night, took me by surprise; it came too quickly, my wife hadn't bought anything yet, and even if I had had money Minna would have had no time for shopping, or rather for getting things tidied up. But if I had had 8 francs to spare yesterday, I would have given them anyhow. But Lehrs thinks he'll get me a chance again, then it won't fail.
Your
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 30