My next move was to go to Stuttgart on 30th April.  I knew that Karl Eckert had been settled there some time as conductor at the Royal Court Theatre, and I had reason to believe the good-natured fellow to be unprejudiced and well disposed towards me, judging by his admirable behaviour when he had been director of the opera in Vienna, and also by the enthusiasm he exhibited in coming to my concert at Karlsruhe the year before.  I expected nothing further of him than a little assistance in looking for a quiet lodging for the coming summer at Cannstadt or some such place near Stuttgart.  I wanted, above all, to finish the first act of the Meistersinger with all possible despatch, so as to send Schott part of the manuscript at last.  I had told him that I was going to send it to him almost immediately when I attacked him about the advances which had so long been withheld from me.  I then intended to collect the means wherewith to meet my obligations in Vienna, while living in complete retirement and, as I hoped, in concealment.  Eckert welcomed me most kindly.  His wife—­one of the greatest beauties in Vienna—­had, in her fantastic desire to marry an artist, given up a very profitable post, but was still rich enough for the conductor to live comfortably and show hospitality, and the impression I now received was very pleasant.  Eckert felt himself absolutely bound to take me to see Baron von Gall, the manager of the court theatre, who alluded sensibly and kindly to my difficult position in Germany, where everything was likely to remain closed to me as long as the Saxon ambassadors and agents—­who were scattered everywhere—­were allowed to attempt to injure me by all kinds of suspicions.  After getting to know me better, he considered himself authorised to act on my behalf through the medium of the court of Wurtemberg.  As I was talking over these matters rather late on the evening of 3rd May at the Eckerts’, a gentleman’s card with the inscription ‘Secretary to the King of Bavaria’ was handed to me.  I was disagreeably surprised that my presence in Stuttgart should be known to passing travellers, and sent word that I was not there, after which I retired to my hotel, only to be again informed by the landlord that a gentleman from Munich desired to see me on urgent business.  I made an appointment for the morning at ten o’clock, and passed a disturbed night in my constant anticipation of misfortune.  I received Herr Pfistermeister, the private secretary of H.M. the King of Bavaria, in my room.  He first expressed great pleasure at having found me at last, thanks to receiving some happy directions, after vainly seeking me in Vienna and even at Mariafeld on Lake Zurich.  He was charged with a note for me from the young King of Bavaria, together with a portrait and a ring as a present.  In words which, though few, penetrated to the very core of my being, the youthful monarch confessed his great partiality for my work, and announced his firm resolve to keep me