In my opinion Paris is the most comfortable, most appropriate and cheapest place for you while things in Germany remain in their wretched state.  Although you may not agree with the artistic doings there, you will find many diverting and stimulating things, which will do you more good than your walks in Switzerland, beautiful though the Alpine landscape may be.  I am surprised, it is true, at your speaking of a permanent settlement in Paris at this moment.  I thought that your relations to Carlsruhe had reached such a point as to secure to you an asylum in the Grand Duchy of Baden (perhaps at Heidelberg, unless the professors should frighten you there).  How about the first performance of “Tristan” at Carlsruhe?  Devrient informed me, with tolerable certainty, that the intention was to give the work on the birthday of the Grand Duchess in December, and that you would be invited to conduct it.  I hope no change has taken place in this.  Let me have particulars.  Perhaps I shall be able to assist you in simplifying the matter.

Do you know what I did a few days ago?  Looking at your portrait, which you had signed “Santo Spirito Cavaliere”, it occurred to me to write a “Rienzi fantasia” for pianoforte.  If it should amuse you for a moment my time will have been well employed.  I should tell you that your little bust adorns my writing desk.  You are of course without the company of any other celebrities—­no Mozart, no Beethoven, no Goethe, or whatever their names may be.  To this room, which is the heart of the house, none of them is admitted.  What a beautiful day it will be when I see you here.

M. will leave us soon, probably in October; until then I cannot get away from here.  If you should happen to remain in Switzerland till after that, I shall visit you in the late autumn.  Otherwise I shall see you at Carlsruhe or Paris.

Remember me cordially to Draseke.  I am very glad you have taken a liking to him.  He is a splendid fellow.  In our small circle of most intimate friends he is called the “hero.”  Has he shown you his ballad, “Konig Helge?” It is a glorious thing.

Be good enough to tell him that I invite him specially to stay with me on his return journey, and that I should think it very shabby of him if he played me the trick of flying past me under my very nose.

Try to get well again as soon as possible, dearest friend, and continue to love

Your

Franz.

Weymar, August 22nd, 1859.

298.

Paris, October 20th, 1859.

I hope, dear Franz, these lines will reach you exactly on the 22nd.