Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
"Why,yes,Ididhaveanimportantbusinessbanquettoattend,butIchangedmymind,Ifeltlikehavingdinnerwithyoutonight,"hesaidinthetoneofacompliment—butaquiet"Isee"wastheonlyanswerheobtained.
Hefeltirritationatherunastonishedmannerandherpale,unrevealingface.Hefeltirritationatthesmoothefficiencywithwhichshegaveinstructionstotheservants,thenatfindinghimselfinthecandlelightofthediningroom,facingheracrossaperfectlyappointedtable,withtwocrystalcupsoffruitinsilverbowlsoficebetweenthem.
Itwasherpoisethatirritatedhimmost;shewasnolongeranincongruouslittlefreak,dwarfedbytheluxuryoftheresidencewhichafamousartisthaddesigned;shematchedit.Shesatatthetableasifshewerethekindofhostessthatroomhadtherighttodemand.Sheworeatailoredhousecoatofrusset-coloredbrocadethatblendedwiththebronzeofherhair,theseveresimplicityofitslinesservingasheronlyornament.Hewouldhavepreferredthejinglingbraceletsandrhinestonebucklesofherpast.Hereyesdisturbedhim,astheyhadformonths:theywereneitherfriendlynorhostile,butwatchfulandquestioning.
"Iclosedabigdealtoday,"hesaid,histonepartboastful,partpleading."Adealinvolvingthiswholecontinentandhalfadozengovernments.
