Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Green
"No,Ididn’tthinkyouknewit.Ididn’tthinkthathewouldevertellyou,"saidLillian,hervoicesmoother,asifrecognizingthesignpostsandslidingcomfortablydowntheanticipatedcourse."Yetyoumustlearnthereasonthatmadehimsign—becauseitisthesamereasonthatwillmakeyouappearonBertramScudder’sbroadcasttonight."
Shepaused,wishingtobeurged;Dagnywaited.
"Itisareason,"saidLillian,"whichshouldpleaseyou—asfarasmyhusband’sactionisconcerned.Considerwhatthatsignaturemeanttohim.ReardenMetalwashisgreatestachievement,thesummationofthebestinhislife,thefinalsymbolofhispride—andmyhusband,asyouhavereasontoknow,isanextremelypassionateman,hisprideinhimselfbeing,perhaps,hisgreatestpassion.ReardenMetalwasmorethananachievementtohim,itwasthesymbolofhisabilitytoachieve,ofhisindependence,ofhisstruggle,ofhisrise.Itwashisproperty,hisbyright—andyouknowwhatrightsmeantoamanasstrictashe,andwhatpropertymeanstoamanaspossessive.Hewouldhavegladlydiedtodefendit,ratherthansurrenderittothemenhedespised.Thisiswhatitmeanttohim—andthisiswhathegaveup.Youwillbegladtoknowthathegaveitupforyoursake,MissTaggart.Forthesakeofyourreputationandyourhonor.HesignedtheGiftCertificatesurrenderingReardenMetal—underthethreatthattheadulteryhewascarryingonwithyouwouldbeexposedtotheeyesoftheworld.
