. . . Since I see now that my actions and assurances have failed to drive Herr Batz from his entrenched position, behind which he taunts me with distrust, etc., I now consider it best not to carry on further negotiations in person, but to leave them henceforth entirely to my lawyers.
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 328