Атлант расправил плечи
The Utopia of Greed
Shebecamesuddenlyconsciousofherposture:shehadlethershoulderbladesslidedownagainstthechair,carelessly,half-lying,onelegstretchedforward—andwithhersternlytailored,transparentblouse,herwidepeasantskirthand-printedinviolentcolors,herthinstockingandhigh-heeledpump,shedidnotlooklikearailroadexecutive—theconsciousnessofitstruckherinanswertohiseyesthatseemedtobeseeingtheunattainable—shelookedlikethatwhichshewas:hisservantgirl.Sheknewthemomentwhensomefainteststressofthebrillianceinhisdarkgreeneyesremovedtheveilofdistance,replacingthevisionofthepastbytheactofseeingherimmediateperson.
Shemethiseyeswiththatinsolentglancewhichisasmilewithoutmovementoffacialmuscles.
Heturnedaway,butashemovedacrosstheroomhisstepswereaseloquentasthesoundofavoice.Sheknewthathewantedtoleavetheroom,ashealwaysleftit,hehadneverstayedforlongerthanabriefgoodnightwhenhecamehome.Shewatchedthecourseofhisstruggle,whetherbymeansofhissteps,beguninonedirectionandswervinginanother,orbymeansofhercertaintythatherbodyhadbecomeaninstrumentforthedirectperceptionofhis,likeascreenreflectingbothmovementsandmotives—shecouldnottell.Sheknewonlythathewhohadneverstartedorlostabattleagainsthimself,nowhadnopowertoleavethisroom.
Hismannerseemedtoshownosignofstrain.
