Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
NoonehadheardofSenorGonzalesayearago,buthehadbecomefamousforthepartieshehadgiveninthepastsixmonths,eversincehisarrivalinNewYork.Hisguestsdescribedhimasaprogressivebusinessman.Hehadlosthisproperty—itwassaid—whenChile,becomingaPeople’sState,hadnationalizedallproperties,exceptthosebelongingtocitizensofbackward,non-People’scountries,suchasArgentina;buthehadadoptedanenlightenedattitudeandhadjoinedthenewregime,placinghimselfintheserviceofhiscountry.HishomeinNewYorkoccupiedanentirefloorofanexclusiveresidentialhotel.
Hehadafat,blankfaceandtheeyesofakiller.Watchinghimattonight’sreception,Taggarthadconcludedthatthemanwasimpervioustoanysortoffeeling,helookedasifaknifecouldslash,unnoticed,throughhispendulouslayersofflesh—exceptthattherewasalewd,almostsexualrelishinthewayherubbedhisfeetagainsttherichpileofhisPersianrugs,orpattedthepolishedarmofhischair,orfoldedhislipsaboutacigar.Hiswife,theSenoraGonzales,wasasmall,attractivewoman,notasbeautifulassheassumed,butenjoyingthereputationofabeautybymeansofaviolentnervousenergyandanoddmannerofloose,warm,cynicalself-assertivenessthatseemedtopromiseanythingandtoabsolveanyone.
