Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Heloweredhisvoicetothetoneofanominouswarning:"IthinkIshouldtellyou,asafavortoafriend,althoughit’sconfidential,thatyourhusband’sattitudeisbeingdiscussedinhighplaces—veryhighplaces.I’msureyouknowwhatImean."

           ThiswaswhyhehatedLillianRearden,thoughtTaggart:sheknewthegame,butsheplayeditwithunexpectedvariationsofherown.Itwasagainstallrulestolookathimsuddenly,tolaughinhisface,and—afterallthoseremarksshowingthatsheunderstoodtoolittle—tosaybluntly,showingthatsheunderstoodtoomuch,"Why,darling,ofcourseIknowwhatyoumean.Youmeanthatthepurposeofthisveryexcellentluncheonwasnotafavoryouwantedtodome,butafavoryouwantedtogetfromme.Youmeanthatit’syouwhoareindangerandcouldusethatfavortogreatadvantageforatradeinhighplaces.

           Andyoumeanthatyouareremindingmeofmypromisetodeliverthegoods."

           "ThesortofperformanceheputonathistrialwashardlywhatI’dcalldeliveringthegoods,"hesaidangrily."Itwasn’twhatyouhadledmetoexpect."

           "Ohmy,no,itwasn’t,"shesaidplacidly."Itcertainlywasn’t.But,darling,didyouexpectmenottoknowthatafterthatperformanceofhishewouldn’tbeverypopularinhighplaces?Didyoureallythinkyouhadtotellmethatasaconfidentialfavor?"

           "Butit’strue.Iheardhimdiscussed,soIthoughtI’dtellyou.