[...] Blandine's sudden death is simply terrible. I had already heard of it in somewhat greater detail from your account to Raff. The eerie, indeed devil-possessed, frame of mind which has been mine since I heard the news is very horrible. I feel as if this evil was designed to strike at me personally, as if it had been aimed at me, and at me alone. God knows what fate is yet reserved for me, but I am coming to believe strongly that some evil star is specially directed against me, to make me bring misfortune on my friends as well—perhaps in order to shatter once for all the tendency to be happy which would save me for art. Thinking thus I look anxiously at you, too, and demand of Fate a sign to the contrary. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 540