Атлант расправил плечи

           "ItwasI,"saidLilliansoftly,"whoinformedthebureaucratsaboutmyhusband’sadultery."

           DagnynoticedthefirstflickeroffeelinginLillian’slifelesseyes:itresembledpleasure,butsodistantlythatitlookedlikesunlightreflectedfromthedeadsurfaceofthemoontothestagnantwaterofaswamp;itflickeredforaninstantandwent.

           "ItwasI,"saidLillian,"whotookReardenMetalawayfromhim."

           Itsoundedalmostlikeaplea.

           ItwasnotwithinthepowerofDagny’sconsciousnessevertounderstandthatpleaortoknowwhatresponseLillianhadhopedtofind;sheknewonlythatshehadnotfoundit,whensheheardthesuddenshrillnessofLillian’svoice:"Haveyouunderstoodme?"

           "Yes."

           "ThenyouknowwhatIdemandandwhyyou’llobeyme.Youthoughtyouwereinvincible,youandhe,didn’tyou?"Thevoicewasattemptingsmoothness,butitwasjerkingunevenly."Youhavealwaysactedonnowillbutyourown—aluxuryIhavenotbeenabletoafford.Foronceandincompensation,Iwillseeyouactingonmine.

           Youcan’tfightme.Youcan’tbuyyourwayoutofit,withthosedollarswhichyou’reabletomakeandI’mnot.There’snoprofityoucanofferme—I’mdevoidofgreed.I’mnotpaidbythebureaucratsfordoingthis—Iamdoingitwithoutgain.Withoutgain.Doyouunderstandme?"

           "Yes.