Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Ofcourse—onlyisn’tthatanold-fashioned,unphilosophicalremark?Howcanweeverbesureofanything?"

           "Jim,"shesnappedsuddenly,"you’vegottohelpme!"

           "Mydear,I’matyourdisposal,I’ddoanythingtohelpyou,"heanswered,therulesoftheirlanguagerequiringthatanyopenstatementbeansweredbyablatantlie.Lillianwasslipping,hethought—andheexperiencedthepleasureofdealingwithaninadequateadversary.

           Shewasneglecting,henoted,eventheperfectionofherparticulartrademark:hergrooming.Afewstrandswereescapingfromthedrilledwavesofherhair—hernails,matchinghergown,werethedeepshadeofcoagulatedblood,whichmadeiteasytonoticethechippedpolishattheirtips—andagainstthebroad,smooth,creamyexpanseofherskininthelow,squarecutofhergown,heobservedthetinyglitterofasafetypinholdingthestrapofherslip.

           "You’vegottopreventit!"shesaid,inthebelligerenttoneofapleadisguisedasacommand."You’vegottostopit!"

           "Really?What?"

           "Mydivorce."

           "Oh...!"Hisfeaturesdroppedintosuddenearnestness.

           "Youknowthathe’sgoingtodivorceme,don’tyou?"

           "I’veheardsomerumorsaboutit."

           "It’ssetfornextmonth.AndwhenIsayset,that’sjustwhatImean.