Dear Count!
You would do me a very great kindness if you would lend me for a few days the score of my opera ‘Fidelio’. I know, of course, that your copy is not quite correct, but it is better than none at all. People now want to have it performed here in the Court Theatre, but I cannot find my score. I believe I sent it off to Leipzig. It would take too long, however, to have it sent back to me from there – I hope to see you soon and, as always, I press you to my heart –
Wholly your
Beethoven