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   Pontedecimo, seeing the train rushing down, and guessing what had happened, had presence of mmd enough to work the switch and shunt the carriages into a blind track (i), where the foremost one struck against a pile of earth at the end of the track and they stopped; a terrible shock it was, I tell you. A new train was soon prepared, and in about one hour we started again and continued our journey without any further mishap.
   M.  Anybody hurt?
   T.  Ouly some bruises and a great deal of fright, that's all; as far as I know, at least.
   M.  All is well that ends well, my dear Mr. Bluff; what news of your round?
   T.  Plenty of news Sir, and if you can spare a little time now, and have no objection, I am going to report directly on some particular cases, after the data in my note book.
   M.  You may do so if you like; I have just done perusing our correspondence, and am now at leisure; go on.
   (i) Un binario di ferrovia chiamasi track e «blind track è il cosidetto binario morto, cioè un binario senza continuazione e che usualmente finisce in un arresto.
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   T.  First of all. Have all the orders I sent been executed ?
   M.  Some have, and the rest are preparing, I think, with the exception of the one for Mr. Rodi of Lucca, of whom we had rather doubtful information; you must be very careful, my dear sir, before accepting orders from new parties.
   T.  I am sure I made a reserve about him in my correspondence, and warned the House not to carry out the order, unless upon satisfactory information.
   M.  True, but you booked the order and thus engaged the House to send the goods; however we shall try to manage the thing with as little risk as possible. What next ?
   T  Messrs Lisi & Raineri of Spezia claim for a longer term of payment, such as was offered them, so they say at least, by the traveller of the Eagle Silver-Plating Company (i) of Sheffield.
   (i) Chiamasi « plating » l'industria della placcatura, che consiste nel coprire con uno strato d'oro o d'argento oggetti fatti di metallo inferiore. Gli oggetti cosi placcati in argento «Silver plating» sono conosciuti in commercio col nome di Argenteria galvanica.