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   M.  The Eagle is a keen competitor, no doubt, and we musí look sharp after its men. They are now introducing their wares in Italy and try to beat us down by offering lower prices and easier conditions of payment, seeing that their products cannot stand the comparison with ours. The firm you mention are however good customers, it wouldn't do to displease them for a trifle, I shall see what can be done.
   T.  A new hotel is building at Leghorn, which is to be opened for the next bathing season under the management of the well known firm Pitti Bros (i), the proprietors of the Arno Hotel of Florence. One of the brothers being at Leghorn, I called on him to secure the supply of plate and cutlery (2 J, but found that a German house had been beforehand with us. I did my best to carry the point (3), for I was able to ascertain that no formal engagement had been as yet entered into; left Mr. Pitti our catalogue, and offered him
   (1) Bros  Abbreviato di « brothers  fratelli ».
   (2) Cutlery Coltelleria.
   (5) 11 verbo to carry «portare» trovasi usato in alcune locuzioni idiomatiche col significato di «vincere» come «to carry the day -vincere la giornata " vincere la battaglia»-«to carry the point -vincere il punto, cioè riuscir nell'intinto».
   X
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   ten per cent rebate on our list prices, when he promised to wait on the House (1) here, either by letter or personally, at an early date; however I think it advisable to keep negotiations alive, if we don't
   like to be outdone.
   M.  I am to go to Florence within this week on pressing business, and shall improve the occasion by taking the matter in hand (2) personally. I shall stop at the Arno hotel, to have better chance of talking business with Messrs Pitti.
   T.  That's the way, I am sure you will succeed. Bad news from Pistoia, Sir; there is a crisis raging now on account of the failure of a leading banking house (3), wherein a large number of capitalists, merchants and well-off
   (1) II verbo «to wait-aspettare» seguito dalla pres. on reggente un sostantivo, cambia sostanzialmente di significato e vale «visitare, andare da una persona». Nello stile epistolare, specialmente nel commerciale, usasi però anche col significato di ascrivere a», quasiché lo scrivente accompagnasse la lettera.  La frase qui annotata devesi quindi tradurre « Promise di scrivere 0 di venire personalmente ».
   (2) La locuzione «to take in hand » equivale all'italiana « occuparsi di ».
   (3) Banking house  Caia bancaria distinta dalla Bank o Joint Stock bank, che è banca ropriamente detta, il di cui capitale è diviso in azioni.