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2.

I have taken note of your first paragraph in letter 30th in regard to items to be discussed with [[pencil underlined]] Encar.  Especially the castles in Germany [[/underlined]] which I must say I had not thought about.  I am sure you are right about their contents and his lack of knowledge re them.  I telephoned Rottier to thank him and he suggested that even if Encar has not returned by the 6th or 7th, his household will know where he his.  But that the appointment is firm, which pleased me very much to hear.

Now as [[pencil underline]] to Altdorfers. [[/underline]]  We went to Linz and motored to the monastery.  The pictures are magnificent, as you will see by the book with color reproductions which I secured in Vienna.  We were personally conducted to the [[underline]] art galleries [[/underline]] in the enormous establishment and the bursar, a reverend gentleman of the greatest dignity almost missed his lunch hour to be polite.  Hans had a letter to the Abbot from the Archbishop of Vienna.  The Abbot was in hospital at Linz so his next of rank did the honors.  He being the treasurer was the man I wanted to see.  I gathered that the Drey offer was dismissed if ever it was serious.  But he did say that if they follow the instructions of the Papal Nuncio at Vienna, they [[underline]] must [[/underline]] sell some of their pictures and build schools, rather than keep a museum for the questionable value in interesting the public in art.  Said they are planning a big school at Linz and that they would sell at least one Altdorfer [[pencil underline]] but its a question of millions!!! [[/underline]]  Well as he could not be pinned down at this time, we left.  (I dont know what value an Altdorfer would have but if any have it, these have.)  More anon.

We went then to [[pencil underline]] Kremsmunster [[/underline]] where we saw the so-called [[pencil underline]] Mabuse and de Bles pictures. [[/underline]]  I preferred the latter but both are dirty and hung in a vast collection of inferior paintings,,, and believe it or not, at knee level.  The rooms dark and cold, and we had only a small flash light.  Of this visit also more later.

Another day, we took a bus to [[pencil underline]] Eisenstadt, [[/pencil underline]] 60 miles S.E. of V. to see the [[pencil underline]] two Gerard's. [[/pencil underline]]  These are full-lengths and both Hans and I took photos of them, hoping they would come out in one camera or the other as we had to stand on chairs and photograph inside a big room.  It gave me quite a shock to realize later that we were not only in Red Occupied Austria but were using a camera inside the [[pencil underline]] Esterhazy Palace, [[/pencil underline]] occupied as offices by the Russians.  No one disturbed us or paid the slightest attention, and we returned alive and free.  Of this phase more later.  The paintings are agreeable, one signed and dated plainly.  The other of a [[underline]] Liechtenstein[[/underline]] woman who married an Esterhazy, not plainly signed but they are practically pendants and in almost identical Empire frames...Baron G. was a constant guest in the palace where they hang.  The latter is very attractive of a nice looking young woman in a white Empire dress and with landscape b.g^[[round]] The lawyer of the Esterhazy chief was absent from Vienna but returning Nov. 1.  Hans is to ask him how cheap the portraits can be bought.  I thought [[underline]] to myself [[/underline]], the second portrait might be [[pencil underline]] bait [[/pencil underline]] for Liechtenstein to part with the bronze.  Did not mention to Hans.  I told H. the paintings too large for American general market, in bad order (one especially) (not the L. one) and worth about $500. each at my estimate.  Costly to restore and ship with heavy frames, etc.  If we could buy the L. portrait for 25,000 Austrian schillings($1000.) and leave in Vienna for the Prince to wangle its export to Vaduz, we might manage to get a [[pencil underline]] good allowance [[/pencil underline]] against the cost of bronze.