The company was a player in the maritime insurance arena.

But these Regies, or foreign monopolies, also prevent the growers of Tobacco of this country, from entering into competition with the foreign grower, which they would successfully do if the market were open to them[…]

A blackster (a fan of heavy metal, the satanic kind) isn't going to join a stuffed animal club, of course, but he does listen to music and try to translate the words of the songs.

‘Snake was just talking about you, said you take a mean specky,’ she said. Adam felt his face colour. His marking skills weren′t that great.