Атлант расправил плечи

           Dr.Ferriswasastonishedtohearhimsayslowly,inthedispassionatetoneofanabstractstatementthatdidnotseemtobeaddressedtohislistener,"ButallyourcalculationsrestonthefactthatMissTaggartisavirtuouswoman,nottheslutyou’regoingtocallher."

           "Yes,ofcourse,"saidDr.Ferris.

           "Andthatthismeansmuchmoretomethanacasualaffair."

           "Ofcourse."

           "IfsheandIwerethekindofscumyou’regoingtomakeusappear,yourblackjackwouldn’twork."

           "No,itwouldn’t."

           "Ifourrelationshipwerethedepravityyou’regoingtoproclaimittobe,you’dhavenowaytoharmus."

           "No."

           "We’dbeoutsideyourpower."

           "Actually—yes."

           ItwasnottoDr.FerristhatReardenwasspeaking.HewasseeingalonglineofmenstretchedthroughthecenturiesfromPlatoonward,whoseheirandfinalproductwasanincompetentlittleprofessorwiththeappearanceofagigoloandthesoulofathug.

           "Iofferedyou,once,achancetojoinus,"saidDr.Ferris."Yourefused.Nowyoucanseetheconsequences.Howamanofyourintelligencethoughtthathecouldwinbyplayingitstraight,Ican’timagine.