Best Muzius,
I have to create a confusion again; I can't get home till midday Saturday — toward 2 o'clock. It was impossible to leave the kindness of Mad. Erard unrequited, who had firmly reckoned upon me for Tuesday; she had invited a big assembly in my honour, among whom Rossini himself may be present. So it will be late at night before one gets home, and it would be too fatiguing for me to rise at 6 in the morning and travel all night again (to arrive on Thursday). Further, Kietz and Chandon have pressingly begged me once more to give them a day at Epernay; which I now shall do, and travel home quite leisurely, so as not to arrive on a Friday.
I am bringing money too. The Vienna people sent the 1000 fr. bill of exchange to me here, after all, as it was drawn upon Paris; it doesn't make much difference, and saves in fact a trifling loss.
You will receive no further news from me, except perhaps a hasty confirmation of my departure. So bespeak the party for Saturday evening; I shall bring the oysters with me, and thus be following your advice.
I had hoped for another letter from you to-day; you aren't unwell by any chance?
Adieu, good old Madame! Stay good to me till then; when you can reprove me again if I behave badly. To the very finest of welcomes!
Thy much-loved Husband.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 119