The great man was pleased to be in a good humour.
And as Ryder turned with the senator to enter the Directors Room the light from the big windows fell full on his face, and they noticed that his eyes were of the softest blue.
"No squalls to-day," whispered one.
"Wait and see," retorted a more experienced colleague.

"Those eyes are more fickle than the weather." Outside the sky was darkening, and drops of rain were already falling.

A flash of lightning presaged the coming storm.
Ryder passed on and into the Directors Room followed by Senator Roberts and the other directors, the procession being brought up by the dapper little secretary bearing the minutes.
The long room with its narrow centre table covered with green baize was filled with directors scattered in little groups and all talking at once with excited gesture.

At the sight of Ryder the chattering stopped as if by common consent, and the only sound audible was of the shuffling of feet and the moving of chairs as the directors took their places around the long table.
With a nod here and there Ryder took his place in the chairman's seat and rapped for order.

Then at a sign from the chair the dapper little secretary began in a monotonous voice to read the minutes of the previous meeting.