Атлант расправил плечи

           Iknowthatadmittingitnow,doesn’tmakeupforit,andevencominghereisonlyanotherpresumption,there’snoreasonwhyyoushouldwanttohearit,soIcan’tevencancelthedebt,Icanonlyaskforafavor—thatyouletmesaythethingsIwanttosaytoyou."

           Dagny’sshockofemotion,incredulous,warmandpainful,wasthewordlessequivalentofthesentence:Whatadistancetotravelinlessthanayear...Sheanswered,theunsmilingearnestnessofhervoicelikeahandextendedinsupport,knowingthatasmilewouldupsetsomeprecariousbalance,"Butitdoesmakeupforit,andIdowanttohearit."

           "IknowthatitwasyouwhoranTaggartTranscontinental.ItwasyouwhobuilttheJohnGaltLine.Itwasyouwhohadthemindandthecouragethatkeptallofitalive.IsupposeyouthoughtthatImarriedJimforhismoney—aswhatshopgirlwouldn’thave?But,yousee,ImarriedJimbecauseI...Ithoughtthathewasyou.IthoughtthathewasTaggartTranscontinental.NowIknowthathe’s"—shehesitated,thenwentonfirmly,asifnottospareherselfanything—"he’ssomesortofviciousmoocher,thoughIcan’tunderstandofwhatkindorwhy.WhenIspoketoyouatmywedding,IthoughtthatIwasdefendinggreatnessandattackingitsenemy...butitwasinreverse...itwasinsuchhorrible,unbelievablereverse!...SoIwantedtotellyouthatIknowthetruth...notsomuchforyoursake,Ihavenorighttopresumethatyou’dcare,but...butforthesakeofthethingsIloved.