246.

TO FRAU VON STREICHER.

How deeply am I indebted to you, my excellent friend, and I have become
such a poor creature that I have no means of repaying you. I am very
grateful to Streicher for all the trouble he has taken on my behalf [about
a house in the Gärtner Strasse], and beg he will continue his inquiries.
God will, I hope, one day enable me to return benefit for benefit, but this
being at present impossible, grieves me most of all....

Now Heaven be praised! [he thus winds up a long letter about a bad
servant,] I have contrived to collect all these particulars for you with no
little toil and trouble, and God grant that I may never, never more be
obliged to speak, or write, or think again on such a subject, for mud and
mire are not more pernicious to artistic soil, than such devilry to any
man!!!


247.

TO FRAU VON STREICHER.

As to Frau von Stein [stone], I beg she will not allow Herr von Steiner to
turn into stone, that he may still be of service to me; nor must Frau von
Stein become too stony towards Herr von Steiner, &c.

My good Frau von Streicher, do not play any trick [Streiche] to your worthy
little husband, but rather be to all others Frau von Stein [stone]!!!!