About this also I feel the absolute necessity of personal communication with you.  Everything here is so delicate, so finely threaded, that it cannot be explained by letter.  I want so much patience to preserve courage and love of work in my precarious position, that in my daily efforts to keep up that courage in spite of my miserable circumstances, I can only gain a few moments in which I am happy in my work, and forget all around me.  The reason is that delusive possibilities of escape continually haunt my troubled imagination.  But about this we must have some definite conversation.

Your offer of help in the circumstances in which you make it to me has placed me in a painful position, and so much is certain, that I cannot accept the sum which you promise to me for May in order to make my life more pleasant.  I must put my income on a different basis, that is understood, and you will understand me if I say so.  If, on the other hand, you contrive to dispose of that sum in my favour under conditions less troublesome to yourself, I accept it for the purpose of meeting the expenses of the copying of my scores and pianoforte arrangements, which is very expensive here.  I have already spent some money on it, and the hole this has made in my income I must fill up somehow.  I certainly cannot go on paying for the copying with my own money.  I therefore undertake, for the sum already named, to have all the scores and pianoforte arrangements of my “Nibelung” dramas copied, and to place the copies at your disposal as your property, assuming at the same time that you will kindly lend them to me, as soon and as often as I want them.  Are you satisfied with this?

The copy of the “Rhinegold” is quite ready, and I expect it back from London, together with Klindworth’s arrangement.  This therefore, would be at your disposal at once.  Of the pianoforte arrangement of the “Valkyrie,” the first two acts will be finished very soon; the third act I recently sent to Klindworth.  Hoping that you will accept my proposal, I shall now have the copy of the full score of the “Valkyrie” taken in hand, and this also you can have as soon as it is finished, because Klindworth works from my sketches of the parts.  If at this moment you have leisure, and wish to look at it, I will with pleasure let you have the original score of the finished work for some time, and shall occupy the copyist with the pianoforte arrangement of the “Rhinegold” which I expect very soon.  I am very anxious to know how the last act will please you, for, besides you, there is really no one to whom I could show it with any satisfaction.  I have succeeded, and it is probably the best thing I have written.  It contains a terrible storm of the elements and the hearts, which is gradually calmed down to the miraculous sleep of Brynhild.  What a pity you will be far from me for so long!  Could you not pay me a short flying visit soon?

And am I at last to see some of your new compositions?  Their arrival and entry into my home shall be blessed.  I have desired to see them ever so long.