Good Minna,
I must hunt out a sheet of pink paper to-day, although I'm so full of affairs that I don't know whether I am standing on my head or my heels. Fresh proofs arrived from Härtels yesterday (Tristan full score, act 1) and gave me great delight, since it all looks so nice now it's engraved. To-day — all manner of agreeable novelties. In the first place a telegram from — Tichatscheck: "Sunday. Tannhäuser to-day. Have slowly recovered. Three conscientious band rehearsals held; performance will go admirably. Johanna — Elisabeth." Could I do anything else than let it cost me a twenty-franc piece? I telegraphed back my thanks, delight and greetings.
Then came an order for Lohengrin from Düsseldorf, which doesn't precisely count for much, but still is another beginning.
And then a letter from Hülsen, about Lohengrin for Berlin. I must see to extracting another advance from him; when I shall create no further difficulties. Who knows if the King will not abdicate for good by the commencement of winter? — folk say October — when I shall apply to the young Prince of Prussia to let me come there. If that doesn't succeed, why, I must leave it in the lap of Fate once more.
I should soon be getting an answer to my demand from Vienna also.
See now, that really looks a trifle promising. I mean to have a serious talk with the Grand Ducals about Berlin as well. —
The only thing that lacks now, is my having a passably healthy wife at home again. How stands my hope of that, Mutz? You, lucky soul, have Fipps at least; I've absolutely nothing fondling here. Is he helping you to sleep well now? The heat has somewhat diminished, you know, and I'm in hopes you'll shortly send me joyful tidings. Does the porter go on delivering you my greetings from the station? All our numerous grand pianos are newly tuned, and when you come home I expect to hear you brilliantly extemporising every morning; anyhow you will be able to help in my composing now.
Friedrich and Lisette are quite despairing of your return; it takes me all my time consoling them. By the way, Lisette says you've made a mistake about her wages: you hadn't engaged her at 100 fr., but at 130 fr. yearly; if that is so, of course I must pay her the additional 7½ fr. for the quarter. That can soon be set straight; but money keeps flying away, and it's a good job fresh prospects are shewing. They will be giving Rienzi, too, at Dresden after all; for Tichatscheck's illness, though serious, doesn't appear to have really been dangerous. What a man he is! not the Devil's strength itself can lay him low! I hope it will be the same with you, and in spite of all your present sufferings you'll bonnily pull round again and duly help me celebrate my resurrection in Germany. The giving of my operas again at Dresden is really a very good thing, and bound to contribute in the long run to my amnesty; one can hardly conceive otherwise. Well, we shall see. In any case to-day's telegram was highly momentous to me, and my answer will give the good fellow great joy. Perhaps he is receiving it this very instant. —
It is Sunday to-day — a beastly day. I think of driving, swimming, or wading out to Wille's. Strictly, I ought to have gone to Sulzer again; but it gives me the horrors.
I shall write you full particulars of my Lucerne journey later, and beg you to send the carriage to the station on Thursday.
God preserve you, good old Wife! Be of good cheer, hold me dear, and build on
Thy good old Husband.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 137