Атлант расправил плечи

           "Don’tyouthinkitwouldbebetterifyoutookyourcoatoffandsatdown?"

           Sheknewshehadmadeamistakebybetrayingtoomuchintensity.Sheturnedcoldly,removedhercoatandthrewitaside.Hedidnotrisetohelpher.Shesatdowninanarmchair.Heremainedonthefloor,atsomedistance,butitseemedasifheweresittingatherfeet.

           "WhatwasitIdidwithfullintention?"heasked.

           "TheentireSanSebastiánswindle."

           "Whatwasmyfullintention?"

           "ThatiswhatIwanttoknow."

           Hechuckled,asifshehadaskedhimtoexplaininconversationacomplexsciencerequiringalifetimeofstudy.

           "YouknewthattheSanSebastiánmineswereworthless,"shesaid."Youknewitbeforeyoubeganthewholewretchedbusiness."

           "ThenwhydidIbeginit?"

           "Don’tstarttellingmethatyougainednothing.Iknowit.Iknowyoulostfifteenmilliondollarsofyourownmoney.Yetitwasdoneonpurpose."

           "Canyouthinkofamotivethatwouldpromptmetodoit?"

           "No.It’sinconceivable."

           "Isit?YouassumethatIhaveagreatmind,agreatknowledgeandagreatproductiveability,sothatanythingIundertakemustnecessarilybesuccessful.AndthenyouclaimthatIhadnodesiretoputoutmybesteffortforthePeople’sStateofMexico.Inconceivable,isn’tit?"

           "Youknew,beforeyouboughtthatproperty,thatMexicowasinthehandsofalooters’government.Youdidn’thavetostartaminingprojectforthem."

           "No,Ididn’thaveto.