Атлант расправил плечи

           "Henevernoticedyourexistence.Hedidnoticemine.I’mstillMrs.Rearden—atleastforanothermonth."

           "Yes..."hesaid,lookingdownatherwithasudden,newinterest.

           "Mrs.Rearden!"shechuckled."Youwouldn’tknowwhatthatmeanttohim.Nofeudallordeverfeltordemandedsuchreverenceforthetitleofhiswife—orhelditassuchasymbolofhonor.Ofhisunbending,untouchable,inviolate,stainlesshonor!"Shewavedherhandinavaguemotion,indicatingthelengthofhersprawledbody."Caesar’swife!"shechuckled."Doyourememberwhatshewassupposedtobe?

           No,youwouldn’t.Shewassupposedtobeabovereproach."

           Hewasstaringdownatherwiththeheavy,blindstareofimpotenthatred—ahatredofwhichshewasthesuddensymbol,nottheobject.

           "Hedidn’tlikeitwhenhisMetalwasthrownintocommon,publicuse,foranychancepasser-bytomake...didhe?"

           "No,hedidn’t."

           Hiswordswereblurringalittle,asifweightedwithdropsoftheliquorhehadswallowed:"Don’ttellmethatyouhelpedustogetthatGiftCertificateasafavortomeandthatyougainednothing...Iknowwhyyoudidit."

           "Youknewitatthetime."

           "Sure.That’swhyIlikeyou,Lillian."

           Hiseyeskeptcomingbacktothelowcutofhergown.