Esteemed Friend,
It was only after I had returned home from mailing you my yesterday's letter that I found your message, asking me not to communicate personally with you regarding my transaction. Many and bitter were the thoughts which this roused in my mind. Perhaps you might — speaking frankly! — not comprehend what I perceive in this wish to have me keep away. In this I don't see any change in your feelings towards me in particular, but rather a fresh confirmation of my views regarding the ruinous effects of money and its attendant vile worries upon the human mind: we are not guided by any purely humane sentiment, but the more we perceive anything godlike in us, the greater our inclination becomes to yield this up to another baser — but unfortunately, prevailing — principle: we prefer to give way to it consciously, perceiving its superior force.
It is to be hoped that last evening you did not expect a visit from me, in consequence of your request.
But now I ask one favour of you, in case you still have anything to say in reply to my yesterday's letter, to please communicate this as soon as possible, to me or to Herr Fleck. Also you would oblige me, for a certain reason, if you would return my yesterday's letter to me.
Now, be assured, however, that I truly do not misjudge the great friendship which you have shown for me until now, and that for this reason I shall remain under obligation to you as long as I live.
Farewell, and no matter how things turn out, maintain friendly feelings towards me, in memory of the fine hours of the past.
Your
Richard Wagner
Source: The Letters of Richard Wagner to Anton Pusinelli, trans. and ed. Elbert Lenrow (Alfred A. Knopf, 1932), No. 6