Dear Minna,
Best thanks for your tidings. There will be some confusion now with the small sum of money sent you from Berlin: I wrote there as soon as I learnt your address; so just give orders at your former lodgings to forward that money-letter to your present ones. I place this first, not to forget it later.
Everything with myself is now revolving round the question of my journey. I wrote you last, I should like to go direct from Soden to Vienna, but I learn that Liszt would be beside himself if I didn't go to his performance; consequently there is nothing left for me but to get through this Weimar visit also before Vienna. So I'm sitting on hot coals here now, and anxious to be off, for all the kindness of my hosts. The Countess, who had been waiting for the visit of her father, Minister Bethmann-Hollweg, went away with him to the seaside last Tuesday; so I am alone with the Count and Hatzfeld: but all sorts of diplomatic guests are constantly at table, when there is always a very good spread.
That might be all very well: nevertheless I've nothing more to do here, and — without my nice apartment I couldn't have stood it another week. Monsieur Truinet is as charming as ever, also doing his job very well, but at times lets three days pass in succession without assisting me; with which I have had to put up. I've now declared to him, however, that I shall start on Monday and he must have got finished by then. I mean that seriously moreover, and accordingly should arrive at Soden Tuesday. I'm not quite sure yet, whether I also shall come by Cologne, or direct via Metz; that will depend upon weather and whim. Should anything still alter in respect of my journey, I will let you know in good time. But I shall be unable to stay with you long, as you may easily imagine.
Well, I suppose Mathilde is with you again, to drop her money on the gambling-boards as fast as possible? — With myself, for all ambassadries, things are going pretty monotonously.
Herr Volz is behaving very well; he at once undertook to bring the packer to reason, and so I probably shall get off for the original price. He declares he will let the boxes remain at his place as long as ever I wish. He's an admirer of mine: — what more would one have! —
Gasperini has returned, and looked me up: he sends you heartiest greetings; we spent last evening together. That absurd Dr Schuster also has given me no peace; I've had to dine with him once at the restaurant. —
I have dined once at Ollivier's also; after which we drove to the bois de Boulogne. With the Pourtalès's I've been twice to the theatre. — That's about all that has occurred to me! —
God knows what will turn up for next winter. I intend shewing myself very cautious and chary on all sides, so as to reap something quite solid and fully meeting my wishes at last. I am horrified when I look back upon the past!!
Daily have I to recognise that my not having hurried with Carlsruhe was a very good move: intolerable things have reached my ears about Devrient again. — However, even that may still right itself: only they must be shewn I've no need to go hawking myself at any price; they must learn that they can have me, but must offer me something like. —
But we won't let that worry us just yet; diversion will do both you and me a heap of good. Let us wait, and — not look beyond tomorrow for the present. For your part, before all look after your health, to make good the damage once more done you by this unhappy Paris spell. I should need an energetic cure myself now; my ailments have developed to a pitch I never knew before. Schuster very much wanted me to go to Wiesbaden: — for this year, impossible! So I shall have to see how I can pull through the winter! —
Enough now; we shall soon meet again, and on everything else by mouth!
The very best and kindest wishes!!
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 209