Атлант расправил плечи

           "Doyouthinkyou’regoingtomakemehide?I’msickofhavingtoputonanactforyourrighteoussatisfaction!Whothehellareyou,youcheaplittlenobody?

           I’lldoasIplease,andyou’llkeepyourmouthshutandgothroughtherighttricksinpublic,likeeverybodyelse,andstopdemandingthatIactinmyownhome!—nobodyisvirtuousinhisownhome,theshowisonlyforcompany!—butifyouexpectmetomeanit—tomeanit,youdamnlittlefool!—you’dbettergrowupinahurry!"

           Itwasnotherfacethathewasseeing,itwasthefaceofthemanatwhomhewantedandwouldneverbeabletothrowhisdeedofthisnight—butshehadalwaysstoodastheworshipper,thedefender,theagentofthatmaninhiseyes,hehadmarriedherforit,soshecouldservehispurposenow,andhescreamed,"Doyouknowwhoshewas,thewomanIlaid?Itwas—"

           "No!"shecried."Jim!Idon’thavetoknowit!"

           "ItwasMrs.Rearden!Mrs.HankRearden!"

           Shesteppedback.Hefeltabriefflashofterror—becauseshewaslookingathimasifshewereseeingthatwhichhadtoremainunadmittedtohimself.Sheasked,inadeadvoicethathadtheincongruoussoundofcommonsense,"Isupposeyouwillnowwantustogetdivorced?"

           Heburstoutlaughing.