Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Aconference—aboutwhat?"

           "You’veencounteredsomanydifficulties—andwe’reanxioustohelpyouinanywaywecan."

           "Ihavenotaskedforhelp."

           "Theseareprecarioustimes,Mr.Rearden,thepublicmoodissouncertainandinflammatory,so...sodangerous...andwewanttobeabletoprotectyou."

           "Ihavenotaskedforprotection."

           "Butsurelyyourealizethatwe’reinapositiontobeofvaluetoyouandifthere’sanythingyouwantfromus,any..."

           "Thereisn’t."

           "Butyoumusthaveproblemsyou’dliketodiscusswithus."

           "Ihaven’t."

           "Then...well,then"—givinguptheattemptattheplayofgrantingafavor,Hollowayswitchedtoanopenplea—"thenwon’tyoujustgiveusahearing?"

           "Ifyouhaveanythingtosaytome."

           "Wehave,Mr.Rearden,wecertainlyhave!That’sallwe’reaskingfor—ahearing.Justgiveusachance.Justcometothisconference.

           Youwouldn’tbecommittingyourselftoanything—"Hesaiditinvoluntarily,andstopped,hearingabright,mockingstaboflifeinRearden’svoice,anunpromising-sound,asReardenanswered:"Iknowit."

           "Well,Imean...thatis...well,then,willyoucome?"

           "Allright,"saidRearden."I’llcome.