These would saunter in with an air of fine leisure, and their manner of careless but elegant dress would be keenly noted by Merton.

Then there were directors.

These were often less scrupulously attired and seemed always to be solving knotty problems.

They passed hurriedly on, brows drawn in perplexity.

They were very busy persons.
Those on the bench regarded them with deep respect and stiffened to attention as they passed, but they were never observed by these great ones.
The waiting ones were of all ages; mostly women, with but a sprinkling of men.