people, how happy I should be. And "off and on" we should be sure
to undertake something to give vent to our energies in the outer
world.

But I am talking wildly. Correct me if I deserve it; I shall
never be anything but a fantastic good-for-nothing.

Has Eugene sent you my medallion? It is not bad, only a little
sickly.

I shall soon have to write again; I have more materials than I
can deal with today.

The instrumentation of the "Rhinegold" is going on apace. At
present I am with the orchestra down in "Nibelheim." In May the
whole will be ready, but not the clean copy, only single sheets
with illegible pencil sketches on them. It will be some time
before you can see anything of it. In June I have to begin the
"Valkyrie." When are you coming? You say nothing about it, and
yet you talk of "verbal communications." Schindelmeisser wrote to
me yesterday, asking me to come to Darmstadt on the sly on Easter
Monday, because "Lohengrin" would be splendid. That I shall leave
alone.

Adieu, dearest, dearest Franz. I have so many things to write to
you, that I must close for today.

Convey my best regards.

Your