Best thanks, dear Minna, for your beautiful cream-laid letter; it tasted capital! — But, a truce to words and fiddle-faddle, the arrangement holds good: I expect you at the station here on Thursday evening. True, Liszt and his ladies are staying still longer; he wants to celebrate his birthday here, the 24th October. But that need make no difference, as — the Wesendoncks are here — and you can be with them, if necessary, should I at any time have to form suite where you either couldn't, or wouldn't care to go. Yes, I really had to burst out laughing yesterday, when in the rue Richelieu I suddenly met the good American, who point-blank refused to believe it was I. Liszt is going to pay a call with me on the Wesendoncks to-day, but all our evenings are so filled up already, that we can't be in their company at present; to-day we have to be at Erard's, tomorrow at the Countess Kalergis', the day after to-morrow at Jules Janin's; and so it goes on. Frau Wesendonck was highly delighted when she learnt that you were coming too. They intend remaining here a fortnight in all; which will be very agreeable for us, only I fancy we can't stay so long, were it only for poor dear Pepsel's sake, who is making my heart ache already: what do you think yourself? —
I have written to Sulzer again to-day: he will give you — I hope so — whole heaps of money, all of which I can repay him after our return. But — money we require here, immensely much money — else it's no good; and you then shall come in for a really fine treat! — Na, adieu! A pleasant journey, and observe my plan of it! — I shall fetch you Thursday evening, and tickle you to your heart's content! — Ah, poor Peps! — Adieu!
Thy Richel.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 60