Dear Gleb Petrovich,

I hasten to inform you that today I have received both the picture and the check. Yes, with this check, I think the money can be obtained without any delay. It is unlikely that any more money will be needed, we’ll try to get by, thanks. The drawing is good; it will come out well. It’s just that, in my opinion, the inscription stating who it is, is not necessary. We will only give: “Drawing by S. Sorin, 1913.” It is a pity that tomorrow is a day off (a Catholic holiday), and then it’s a Saturday – I will have to order the stereo plates on Monday.

I sent you the proofs on the 28th – the layout of the entire collection. I did it, by the way, hastily – I was in a hurry to send it, but then I saw that it is better to leave the last page (the 24th) blank as well, and to give the last verse (Part II of the Epilogue) on two pages, the 21st and the 22nd. As soon as I receive the proofs from you and the stereo plates, we will send it to print. (Unfortunately, I had to write the name of the author in the layout, but I don’t think anyone will check it.)

About Grynberg – no, I don’t think he traveled so far. In any case, he arrived with his wife and his wife’s friend from Switzerland, saying that they had stayed there for quite a long time on business. Someone also told me that he did in fact have business there, but what it was I do not know. He came here almost immediately after the conference in Bad Wiessee. He said he had an invitation but that business had delayed him and he decided to not go to the conference.

Perhaps I’m mistaken, but it looks like he might have the information from the same source (“the Swede,” i.e. R<ittenberg>). Perhaps this source wrote to someone else in Switzerland or Paris? Nor can I guarantee that Grynberg indeed has this manuscript: he was vague on this account. But this is not so important: we will outrun him anyway. We will outrun “Den’ Poezii” too, even if the work does appear in it (which I doubt very much). Whatever the circumstances, our publication makes sense.

I have an agreement in Washington D.C. concerning our books (of their choice); they even promised to finance several books. But getting money from them is so problematic that I don’t have any hopes in them. Another thing is that it’s easier for them to take books that are ready and available here. So I broke our agreement and have written there already, but to a person who cannot disclose it. Of course, not a word was mentioned of you. But it was necessary to write to them: if they take a large quantity, we will increase the print run. For the time being, let’s keep it at 1,200 – but if I hear back from them about a large quantity, before I send it to print, I will see if it is necessary to print more.

I hope that in two weeks, or perhaps three, we can release the book. <…>