Атлант расправил плечи

           Hiseyeswerestudyingher:thebatteredcoatthrownopen,half-slippingoffhershoulders,andtheslenderbodyinagraysuitthatlookedlikeanofficeuniform.

           "Ifyoucameheredressedlikethisinordernottoletmenoticehowlovelyyouare,"hesaid,"youmiscalculated.You’relovely.IwishIcouldtellyouwhatareliefitistoseeafacethat’sintelligentthoughawoman’s.Butyoudon’twanttohearit.That’snotwhatyoucameherefor."

           Thewordswereimproperinsomanyways,yetweresaidsolightlythattheybroughtherbacktoreality,toangerandtothepurposeofhervisit.Sheremainedstanding,lookingdownathim,herfaceblank,refusinghimanyrecognitionofthepersonal,evenofitspowertooffendher.Shesaid,"Icameheretoaskyouaquestion."

           "Goahead."

           "WhenyoutoldthosereportersthatyoucametoNewYorktowitnessthefarce,whichfarcedidyoumean?"

           Helaughedaloud,likeamanwhoseldomfindsachancetoenjoytheunexpected.

           "That’swhatIlikeaboutyou,Dagny.TherearesevenmillionpeopleinthecityofNewYork,atpresent.Outofsevenmillionpeople,youaretheonlyonetowhomitcouldhaveoccurredthatIwasn’ttalkingabouttheVaildivorcescandal."

           "Whatwereyoutalkingabout?"

           "Whatalternativeoccurredtoyou?"

           "TheSanSebastiándisaster."

           "That’smuchmoreamusingthantheVaildivorcescandal,isn’tit?"

           Shesaidinthesolemn,mercilesstoneofaprosecutor,"Youdiditconsciously,cold-bloodedlyandwithfullintention."