London, 3 March 1884 

Dear Kautsky, 

Ede Bernstein has assumed the responsibility of drinking a frater- 
nal pledge* with me in your name and on your behalf. I hereby take 
the liberty of putting this into immediate effect in the hope that you 
will not disavow his action. 

Apart from that, he left this evening for Paris '’’ where he will 
spend tomorrow, departing the same night; no doubt he will reach 
Zurich at the same time as this letter. 

Enclosed the sale of Russia to Bismarck for Bismarck to invest with 
Bleichroder with a view to a new Russian loan.? Ferry and Glad- 
stone were the first to be taken in but, if Bleichroder supplies the 

@ A little ceremony which precedes the use of Du (thou), the familiar form of address. 

money, the same thing may happen to Bismarck and, once the fun 
begins in Russia, it will be all up with the lot of them. 

Your 
F. Engels