Атлант расправил плечи

           Thedeepburgundycolorofhergownwasunbecoming,itseemedtodrawapurplishtingeoutofherskin,atingethatgathered,liketwilight,inthesmallgulliesofherface,softeningherfleshtoatextureoftiredslackness,changingherlookofbrightmockeryintoalookofstalemalice.

           Hesawherstudyinghim,smilingandsayingcrisply,withthesmileaslicenseforinsult.

           "Youareunwell,aren’tyou,Jim?Youlooklikeadisorganizedstableboy."

           Hechuckled."Icanaffordit."

           "Iknowit,darling.You’reoneofthemostpowerfulmeninNewYorkCity."Sheadded,"It’sagoodjokeonNewYorkCity."

           "Itis."

           "Iconcedethatyou’reinapositiontodoanything.That’swhyIhadtoseeyou."Sheaddedasmall,gruntlikesoundofamusement,todiluteherstatement’sfrankness.

           "Good,"hesaid,hisvoicecomfortableandnoncommittal.

           "Ihadtocomehere,becauseIthoughtitbest,inthisparticularmatter,nottobeseentogetherinpublic."

           "Thatisalwayswise."

           "Iseemtorememberhavingbeenusefultoyouinthepast."

           "Inthepast—yes."

           "IamsurethatIcancountonyou.