My Dear Anton!
I almost despaired of keeping my word to you, and of being able to return by this Easter the 200 thalers you so kindly loaned me in my need. Everything conspired towards failure on this one point, whereas otherwise, as an artist, I scored sufficient triumphs.
For only this unexpected invitation to Russia has put me in the right way of being able somewhat to remedy my extremely forlorn position. I have gone through great, touching, and impressive triumphs here, and fortunately have also taken in so much money that I can now look forward with a bit more reassurance to the further shaping of my position. Accordingly, it is also possible for me to settle my last debt to you without straining myself. I therefore am enclosing 150 thalers for you, since my wife, as she tells me, has already refunded the 50 thalers which you delivered to her in my name.
Now accept my sincerest thanks for this repeated evidence of your faithful friendship! Heaven grant that I can still repay you, before my death, for all that you have ever done for me! Who can tell?
For today, please be contented with these few lines: I have just returned from Moscow, and I am exhausted to the utmost!
Good-bye! Thank you, and remain my friend!
Your
Richard Wagner
Enclosed: 150 thalers
Source: The Letters of Richard Wagner to Anton Pusinelli, trans. and ed. Elbert Lenrow (Alfred A. Knopf, 1932), No. 29