Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Thewayhewentaboutitwastokeepremindingusthathehadgivenusthefactory.Wecouldn’tstandhim.
"GeraldStarneswasourDirectorofProduction.Weneverlearnedjustwhatthesizeofhisrake-off—hisalms—hadbeen.Itwouldhavetakenastaffofaccountantstofigurethatout,andastaffofengineerstotracethewayitwaspiped,directlyorindirectly,intohisoffice.
Noneofitwassupposedtobeforhim—itwasallforcompanyexpenses.Geraldhadthreecars,foursecretaries,fivetelephones,andheusedtothrowchampagneandcaviarpartiesthatnotax-payingtycooninthecountrycouldhaveafforded.Hespentmoremoneyinoneyearthanhisfatherhadearnedinprofitsinthelasttwoyearsofhislife.Wesawahundred-poundstack—ahundredpounds,weweighedthem—ofmagazinesinGerald’soffice,fullofstoriesaboutourfactoryandournobleplan,withbigpicturesofGeraldStarnes,callinghimagreatsocialcrusader.Geraldlikedtocomeintotheshopsatnight,dressedinhisformalclothes,flashingdiamondcufflinksthesizeofanickelandshakingcigarashesallover.Anycheapshow-offwho’sgotnothingtoparadebuthiscash,isbadenough—exceptthathemakesnobonesaboutthecashbeinghis,andyou’refreetogapeathimornot,asyouwish,andmostlyyoudon’t.
