'You might buy some industrials,' he said.
'Industrials? What are they?'
'Oh, all sorts of things. Cotton mills, iron works, trading companies, anything.'
'Cement works?' she asked with a spark of devilry.
'Yes, cement works too,' said the manager without moving a muscle.
'But do you call them safe?' she asked, returning to business.
'Oh, fairly. Of course there are bad years and good. But the debentures are mostly all right and some of the prefs.'
Victoria thought for a moment. Reminiscences of political economy told her that there were booms and slumps.
'Has trade been good lately?' she asked suddenly.
'No, not for the last two years or so. It's picking up though. . . .'