of my _Tannhaeuser_
overture, and pay with pleasure fifteen francs carriage for
them. I then find that the parts have arrived much too soon, for
the Union Musicale has time for everything except for the
rehearsal of my overtures. I am, however, told that there may be
rehearsals at the end of this month, and actually under a
conductor who, in all the performances given under his
direction, carries out the happy idea of indicating _tempi,
nuances_, style in a manner quite different from that intended
by the composer; and with passionate conscientiousness, insists
on studying and conducting himself without ever allowing the
composer to expound his confused views about his own work.
Rocked in blissful dreams, I receive at last a letter of
Heine's, with an enclosure from Wigand--namely, a money-order
for ten louis d'or, which, from your letter, I had unfortunately
expected would come to twenty louis d'or.

"In short, early to-morrow morning (at eight o'clock) I start
off with the intention of being back here at the end of the
month, for the possible rehearsals of my overture.

"I am sorry for Heine and Fischer. Poor fellows! they picture me
floating along on a sea of Parisian hopes; they will be greatly
and painfully undeceived. Salute and console them. When my
cursed ill-humour of to-day has passed away, I will write to
Heine. To his fidelity must I present an earnest face. A
thousand greetings to my dear R----s, from whom I should so
much have liked to receive a line. The merchant M----, of
Dresden, will bring you something from me when he returns from
his great Parisian business trip; a good daguerreotype copy from
an excellent portrait which my friend Rietz has taken of me
here.

"What more shall I write? I am all confusion about my hasty
departure. I have now only to write the verses to my _Wiland_;
otherwise the whole poem is finished--German, German! How my pen
flew along! This _Wiland_ will carry you all away on its wings;
even your friendly Parisian hopes. If K---- does not write soon,
I shall presume that he is raving too madly about Krebs. Krebs
is clever--so is Michalesi--what more do you want? But K----
should restrain himself, and not give himself away so much as he
does, as with me!

"Farewell! Another time you will receive a more sensible letter,