Атлант расправил плечи

           Franciscolistened,lookingoutatthecity.

           Withouttransitionorwarning,heasked,hisvoiceoddlyunstressed,"Dagny,whatwouldyousayifIaskedyoutoleaveTaggartTranscontinentalandletitgotohell,asitwillwhenyourbrothertakesover?"

           "WhatwouldIsayifyouaskedmetoconsidertheideaofcommittingsuicide?"sheansweredangrily.

           Heremainedsilent.

           "Whydidyousaythat?"shesnapped."Ididn’tthinkyou’djokeaboutit.It’snotlikeyou."

           Therewasnotouchofhumorinhisface.Heansweredquietly,gravely,"No.Ofcourse.Ishouldn’t."

           Shebroughtherselftoquestionhimabouthiswork.Heansweredthequestions;hevolunteerednothing.Sherepeatedtohimthecommentsoftheindustrialistsaboutthebrilliantprospectsofd‘AnconiaCopperunderhismanagement."That’strue,"hesaid,hisvoicelifeless.

           Insuddenanxiety,notknowingwhatpromptedher,sheasked,"Francisco,whydidyoucometoNewYork?"

           Heansweredslowly,"Toseeafriendwhocalledforme."

           "Business?"

           Lookingpasther,asifansweringathoughtofhisown,afaintsmileofbitteramusementonhisface,buthisvoicestrangelysoftandsad,heanswered:

           "Yes."

           Itwaslongpastmidnightwhensheawakenedinbedbyhisside.Nosoundscamefromthecitybelow.Thestillnessoftheroommadelifeseemsuspendedforawhile.Relaxedinhappinessandincompleteexhaustion,sheturnedlazilytoglanceathim.Helayonhisback,half-proppedbyapillow.