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   they were lodged, ought also to be dealt with as being covered by the policy. It would be but fair, I think. Really you are too hard on me sir.
   M.  I have but to speak a word to convince you of the contrary,' my dear Mr Flint; and this is: that, had I chosen to abide strictly by the provisions of the policy, I might have simply rejected your claim, and the Company would not pay even so much as one penny indemnity on it.
   1.  I guess you are joking, for that's something beyond possibility.
   M.  I am not joking, at all, sir; there's the wording of clause the 32'd (1) of the policy, which speaks clear- enough, I think.
   (reading) « Premiums (1) to be paid yearly « or half-yearly in advance; not more than « thirty days respite being allowed after maturity. « Premiums still overdue beyond the above term
   (1) ClauS8  Clausola, Artìcolo, cioè disposizione separata e distinta di un contratto.
   (2) Nel suo significato generico di «ricompensa » la parola «premio» ha per corrispondente in inglese il vocabolo «prize», ma se usata in senso tecnico, come «premio d'assicurazione, aggio » e simili, devesi tradurre colla voce latina « premium ».
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   « of thirty days shall cause forfeiture (1) of alfP' « claims io indemnity in case of accident.
   Your premium falls due on the first of January, and it was not paid yet on the 5th of February, when the fire took place; it had then been overdue (2) just thirty six days; enough and to spare for the Company to consider your policy as cancelled under the conditions agreed upon.
   I.  I am quite bewildered, to be sure, and cannot account for such un unpardonable oversight of my bookeeper, who is always very punctual to remind me of any payment being due. However, I ought, at least, to have received a dunning notice (3) before my policy could be cancelled, I think.
   M.  - Never mind, never mind, Mr. Flint, nobody ever thought of cancelling your policy;
   (1) Il verbo « to Forfeit» significa perdere un bene o un diritto qualsiasi per effetto di mancato compimento di un obbligo. Equivale perciò all'Italiano «decadere» usato come termine legale Forfeiture corrisponde perciò a «decadenza» nel senso come sopra.
   (2) Overdue significa letteralmente a ultra dovuto a e dicesi di un debito, pagamento, e simili, quando sia già passata la data della scadenza  Equivale perciò a « scaduto da ».
   (3) Dunning notice  Avviso di sollecitazione di pagamento (Vedi pag. 89, nota 1).