Re: the complementary volume of „The Riddle of the Universe”, of course we must purchase the English and American rights; but I hope that you will not wish us to pay so much as 5000 marks. May I remind you that for the „Riddle” the fee was 2000 marks, and that it is largely owing to our enterprise that the work has been such a remarkable success in England? We are also entitled to some credit for the production of the German edition at one mark. You will remember that you wrote to me that it was because of our issuing the book at sixpence in England, and obtaining such an unprecedented circulation, that you were emboldened to publish in a similarly cheap form in Germany. Under these circumstances may I venture to suggest that you will be good enough to accept 4000 marks for the English and American rights of your new work? Rather than forfeit the privilege of issuing the book in this country and the United States, we would pay a further sum; but our resources are not considerable, and we are naturally anxious not to undertake || too great a liability.
