[...] As far as your allusions to Prager are concerned, there is only one thing I can say. You over-estimate the importance of my dealings with him. It must surely have been clear to you that I had only the most superficial contact with him: if we met comparatively often, it was because, given my passionate and earnest nature, what I sought above all else from this particular relationship was to satisfy a need of mine to let myself go in a nonchalant sort of way, and a desire for homely relaxation. What I seek on such occasions is comfort, and I am easily won over by helpfulness and flexibility: and I also like to have someone at hand whom I can tease a little, since it does me a world of good to fool around in this way. This, my dearest friend, was the extent of my dealings with Pr., and you can judge for yourself that it is utterly impossible for me ever to find myself in the position of being betrayed by Prager! I have never had any occasion to think more deeply about him; I am sincerely sorry if Gerber has been obliged to do so. But I have no inkling as to what can have happened there, but as soon as I discover what has taken place, I shall certainly not suspend judgement. But for now you need have no fear on my account. Pr. cannot possibly abuse my “confidence”; he is simply not in a position to do so. - At all events, I am most grateful to you for this warning. Every good wish to Gerber, and cordial greetings for when we next meet!
Yours,
R. W.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 200