[...] It is nearly a week since you left here and we were once more obliged to give up a settled home. I have been in a very depressed mood because of the repeated recurrence of this restless fate of ours. I could not believe that life would not have one good thing to offer before my departure from Paris. [...]
I really cannot sufficiently praise the Pourtalès family. In everything I am looked upon as one of the family and treated with much kindly consideration. [...] It all tends to lessen the bitterness of my farewell to Paris.—
And now I feel that only one thing can quite distract my mind from all these unhappy recent experiences—and that is earnest preoccupation with my art! [...]
From Vienna I am advised to delay no longer but to go there as soon as possible in person—they are in great need of my stimulating presence even to start the rehearsals [of Tristan]. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 495