F[ile] M. KNOEDLER & CO., SUCCESSORS TO GOUPIL & CO., 355 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. CABLE ADDRESSES. KNOEDLER _ NEW YORK. KNOEDLER _ PARIS. PARIS OFFICE, 2 RUE GLÜCK.

Jan. 26/97

Mr. H. C. Frick, Carnegie Building, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dear Sir:- I am in receipt of your communications of the 25th, inst. as well as your telegram of this day for which I thank you. I have written to Charlie that he ought to propose to Mr. Jas. McCrea, as suggested by you, that, if he wishes his portrait painted by Chartran, he can have a year to settle for it. I thank you for the interest you have taken in the matter. I was pleased to inform you that the owner of the Diaz accepted your offer. I suppose that it was the great need of cash money that prompted him to do so.

I am sorry that Miss Helen will not allow you to accept $1000.- for your bargain, because if she did, I might have made a very good turn, for I did not think for a moment that $5000.- would get the picture. If Helen can secure pictures of that quality at similar low prices, I think it would pay us both to consult with her in the future, and pay liberally for her advice.

Yours very truly, Roland F. Knoedler