Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
Whatofit?—shethought.Shewouldnothavetoseehim.Shehadnotseenhimforyears.
Shesatlookingdownatthenewspaperonthefloor.Don’treadit,shethought;don’tlookatit.Buttheface,shethought,hadnotchanged.Howcouldafaceremainthesamewheneverythingelsewasgone?Shewishedtheyhadnotcaughtapictureofhimwhenhesmiled.Thatkindofsmiledidnotbelonginthepagesofanewspaper.Itwasthesmileofamanwhoisabletosee,toknowandtocreatethegloryofexistence.Itwasthemocking,challengingsmileofabrilliantintelligence.Don’treadit,shethought;notnow—nottothatmusic—oh,nottothatmusic!
Shereachedforthepaperandopenedit.
ThestorysaidthatSeñorFranciscod‘AnconiahadgrantedaninterviewtothepressinhissuiteattheWayne-FalklandHotel.HesaidthathehadcometoNewYorkfortwoimportantreasons:ahat-checkgirlattheCubClub,andtheliverwurstatMoe’sDelicatessenonThirdAvenue.HehadnothingtosayaboutthecomingdivorcetrialofMr.andMrs.GilbertVail.Mrs.Vail,aladyofnoblebreedingandunusualloveliness,hadtakenashotatherdistinguishedyounghusband,somemonthsago,publiclydeclaringthatshewishedtogetridofhimforthesakeofherlover,Franciscod’Anconia.Shehadgiventothepressadetailedaccountofhersecretromance,includingadescriptionofthenightoflastNewYear’sEvewhichshehadspentatd‘Anconia’svillaintheAndes.Herhusbandhadsurvivedtheshotandhadsuedfordivorce.
