the english factory was built facing directly onto the main beach , so there was no difficulty in finding it ; indeed , their attention drawn by the gathered crowd , the company commissioners had sent a small welcoming party to await them on shore , led by a tall young man in the uniform of the east india company 's private service , with aggressive sideburns and a prominent aquiline nose , giving him a predatory look rather increased than diminished by the alert light in his eyes .