Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Goodheavens,couldn’thegiveittoyouasacourtesy?"

           Hesatlookingatherforamoment,studyingherface,asifdeliberatelylettingherseetheamusementinhis."MissTaggart,"hesaid,"wehavenolawsinthisvalley,norules,noformalorganizationofanykind.Wecomeherebecausewewanttorest.Butwehavecertaincustoms,whichweallobserve,becausetheypertaintothethingsweneedtorestfrom.SoI’llwarnyounowthatthereisonewordwhichisforbiddeninthisvalley:theword‘give.’"

           "I’msorry,"shesaid."You’reright."

           Herefilledhercupofcoffeeandextendedapackageofcigarettes.

           Shesmiled,asshetookacigarette:itborethesignofthedollar.

           "Ifyou’renottootiredbyevening,"hesaid,"Mulliganhasinvitedusfordinner.He’llhavesomegueststherewhom,Ithink,you’llwanttomeet."

           "Oh,ofcourse!Iwon’tbetootired.Idon’tthinkI’lleverfeeltiredagain."

           TheywerefinishingbreakfastwhenshesawMulligan’scarstoppinginfrontofthehouse.Thedriverleapedout,racedupthepathandrushedintotheroom,notpausingtoringorknock.Ittookheramomenttorealizethattheeager,breathless,disheveledyoungmanwasQuentinDaniels.