I had got so far when Berlioz called on me.  After that I had to go out, and found soon that I was not well, the cause probably being a cold, which pulls me down more than usually, because as I remember only now, my food has lately been very bad, I being feeble and very thin in consequence.  I had to make my excuses to Ollivier and stop at home in bed.  In consequence of this prudent measure I feel a little better, and am expecting Ollivier, who will call for me at two to take me to the concert of the Coservatroire; so I will go on talking to you a little about practical things.

It was a real shame that I was once more compelled to take money from you, but this time it is quite certain to be a loan, which I shall repay to you in any circumstances.  From the letter of the Princess, I see that you have to use all manner of stealth to get “Rienzi” accepted at the Weimar theatre.  This grieves me very much, and I am afraid that a serious conflict between myself and the management will be the result.  If this should be the case, the repayment of the thousand francs would become more difficult, but by no means impossible, and in any case I count upon returning the money to you by “Easter.”  As to the employment of what you sent to me, and for which also I thank you cordially, you must please set the mind of the good Princess at rest.  I am sorry that this also should trouble her.

Apart from you and Calderon, a glance at the first act of “Tristan,” which I have brought with me, has roused me wonderfully.  It is a remarkable piece of music.  I feel a strong desire to communicate some of it to some one, and I fear I shall be tempted to play some of it to Berlioz one of these days, although my beautiful performance will probably terrify and disgust him.  Could I only be with you!  That, you know, is the burden of my song.

Something more about business.  The Hartels have replied to my offer of “Tristan.”  It was quite amusing.  Whatever I may do, the Philistine will think more or less impossible; to that I am accustomed, and must comfort myself with the success achieved so far by my impossible creations.  To sum up, the Hartels accept, in spite of their great doubts, the publication of the work, with a reduction, however, of my demands.  Even so they think they are offering a great sacrifice to me, but they say that they are prepared to have the full score engraved at once, and I think that I cannot do better than accept their offer.

I am always loth to write to you about business, and have done so only when I expected you to help me, which unfortunately was the case often enough.  This time, however, I want to give you a short synopsis of the state of my Paris expedition.  At the beginning of the winter a M. Leopold Amat, Chef or Directeur des Fetes Musicales de Wiesbaden, wrote to me from Paris, and set forth the results of his voluntary exertions for “Tannhauser” (at Wiesbaden with Tichatschek and in the French press).  He