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concern, and I engage for an increase often pounds a year thenceforward, up to two hundred pounds.
A,. I accept your offer with tanks and you may rely on my utmost zeal and attention in the fulfilment of my duties. Please tell me what are your office-hours ( i < and when I am to begin.
M. Our office hours are from nine in the morning to six in the aftgnicjon, with an interval of two hours for bcaeekiyìt. This is, of course, our regular run, but we have also exceptional work from time to time. As to your starting, I would appoint the first of next month, provided your employer do not object to your quitting him upon so short o notice (2), considering it is to day the twentieth.
A. I'm sure he will not, so let it be arranged for the first of next month.
M. Agreed I'll detain you no longer, good bye (3).
(1) Office hours le Ore d'ufficio, cioè «l'orario d'ufficio».
(2) Upon so short a notice « dietro cosi breve preavviso ».
(3) Good bye Forma solita di saluto corrispondente all' italiano « Addio » e che vuoisi essere 1' accorciatura del saluto originale « God be with you » Dio sia con voi.
Dialogue tlie Fourth
Between an Employer and his Clerk
ARGUMENT The Perusal of Correspondence
Employer. Mr. Lamb, you are rather late this morning, what has been the matter with you ?
Olerk. It was not my fault, Sir, I had to wait for the office boy to fetch in the letters ; would you believe it ? At eight o' clock our post-office box (1) was still empty.
E. Service has really been going on very badly at our post-office for some time past; I'll make a motion (2) at the next meeting of our Chamber of Commerce for a claim on the subject to the Postmaster General (3)
(1) Post-Office box « abb. P. 0. B. » - Cassetta Postale per il pronto ricapito delle lettere agli abbuonati.
(2) Nel linguaggio parlamentare la frase « to make a motion » significa « fare una proposta ».
(3) Postmaster General Il Direttore Generale delle Poste. È questa una delle eccezioni in cui l'aggettivo segue il nome.
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