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Book, page 161 / 508 "Very well, then, let us leave Berenice for the present"--I groaned--"and go to her father, Mr. Montenero, and to a certain Mrs. Coates." "Mrs. Coates! did you see her too?" cried my mother: "you seem to have seen every body in the world this morning, Mr. Harrington. How happened it that you saw vulgar Mrs. Coates?" "Unless I shut my eyes, how can I avoid seeing vulgar people, madam? and how can I tell my story, Mrs. Harrington, if you interrupt me perpetually, to ask how I came to see every soul and body I mention?" "I will interrupt you no more," said my mother, submissively, for she was curious. I placed an arm-chair for my father--in my whole life I never felt so dutiful or so impatient. "There, now," said my father, taking his seat in the chair, "if you will promise not to interrupt me any more, I will tell you my story regularly. I went to Baldwin's bank: I found a great crowd, all pressing their demands-- the clerks as busy as they could be, and all putting a good face upon the matter. The head-clerk I saw was vexed at the sight of me--he came out from behind his desk, and begged I would go up stairs to Mr. Baldwin, who wished to speak to me. I was shown up stairs to Mr. Baldwin, with whom I found a remarkably gentlemanlike foreign-looking man. "Yes, sir--yes, ma'am--Mr. Montenero: it is well you did not either of you interrupt me to tell me his name, for if you had, I would not have told you a word more. Well, Mr. Baldwin, evidently wishing me at the devil, came forward to receive me, and, in great perplexity, said he would be at my command; he would settle my business immediately; but must beg my pardon for five minutes, while he settled with this gentleman, _Mr. Montenero_. On hearing the name, I am sure my look would have said plain enough to any man alive but Baldwin, that I did not choose to be introduced; but Baldwin has no breeding: so it was _Mr. Montenero, Mr. Harrington--Mr. Harrington, Mr. Montenero_. I bowed, and wished the _Jew_ in the Red Sea, and Baldwin along with him. I then took up a newspaper and retreated to the window, begging that I might not be any interruption. The cursed paper was four days old, so I put it down; and as I stood looking at nothing out of the window, I heard Baldwin going on with your Jew. They had a load of papers on the
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