Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Yetnopennyofhiswealthhadbeenobtainedbyforceorfraud;hewasguiltyofnothing,exceptthatheearnedhisownfortuneandneverforgotthatitwashis.
Manystorieswerewhisperedabouthim.ItwassaidthatinthewildernessoftheMiddleWest,hemurderedastatelegislatorwhoattemptedtorevokeachartergrantedtohim,torevokeitwhenhisrailwaslaidhalfwayacrossthestate;somelegislatorshadplannedtomakeafortuneonTaggartstock—bysellingitshort.NatTaggartwasindictedforthemurder,butthechargecouldneverbeproved.Hehadnotroublewithlegislatorsfromthenon.
ItwassaidthatNatTaggarthadstakedhislifeonhisrailroadmanytimes;butonce,hestakedmorethanhislife.Desperateforfunds,withtheconstructionofhislinesuspended,hethrewdownthreeflightsofstairsadistinguishedgentlemanwhoofferedhimaloanfromthegovernment.Thenhepledgedhiswifeassecurityforaloanfromamillionairewhohatedhimandadmiredherbeauty.Herepaidtheloanontimeanddidnothavetosurrenderhispledge.Thedealhadbeenmadewithhiswife’sconsent.Shewasagreatbeautyfromthenoblestfamilyofasouthernstate,andshehadbeendisinheritedbyherfamilybecausesheelopedwithNatTaggartwhenhewasonlyaraggedyoungadventurer.
DagnyregrettedattimesthatNatTaggartwasherancestor.Whatshefeltforhimdidnotbelonginthecategoryofunchosenfamilyaffections.Shedidnotwantherfeelingtobethethingonewassupposedtooweanuncleoragrandfather.
