Ryder opened the book, and Shirley noticed that there were several passages marked. He turned the leaves over in silence for a minute or two and then he said:
“You've sketched a pretty big man here—”
“Yes,” assented Shirley, “he has big possibilities, but I think he makes very small use of them.”
Ryder appeared not to notice her commentary, and, still reading the book, he continued:
“On page 22 you call him ‘the world's greatest individualized potentiality, a giant combination of materiality, mentality and money—the greatest exemplar of individual human will in existence to-day.’ And you make indomitable will and energy the keystone of his marvellous success. Am I right?” He looked at her questioningly.
“Quite right,” answered Shirley.
Ryder proceeded:
“On page 26 you say ‘the machinery of his money-making mind typifies the laws of perpetual unrest. It must go on, relentlessly, resistlessly, ruthlessly making money—making money and continuing to make money. It cannot stop until the machinery crumbles.’”
Laying the book down and turning sharply on Shirley, he asked her bluntly: