Атлант расправил плечи

           "Youdidn’tgiveadamnaboutthatMexicangovernment,onewayoranother,because—"

           "You’rewrongaboutthat."

           "—becauseyouknewthey’dseizethoseminessoonerorlater.WhatyouwereafterisyourAmericanstockholders."

           "That’strue."Hewaslookingstraightather,hewasnotsmiling,hisfacewasearnest.Headded,"That’spartofthetruth."

           "What’stherest?"

           "ItwasnotallIwasafter."

           "Whatelse?"

           "That’sforyoutofigureout."

           "IcameherebecauseIwantedyoutoknowthatIambeginningtounderstandyourpurpose."

           Hesmiled."Ifyoudid,youwouldn’thavecomehere."

           "That’strue.Idon’tunderstandandprobablynevershall.Iammerelybeginningtoseepartofit."

           "Whichpart?"

           "YouhadexhaustedeveryotherformofdepravityandsoughtanewthrillbyswindlingpeoplelikeJimandhisfriends,inordertowatchthemsquirm.Idon’tknowwhatsortofcorruptioncouldmakeanyoneenjoythat,butthat’swhatyoucametoNewYorktosee,attherighttime."

           "Theycertainlyprovidedaspectacleofsquirmingonthegrandscale.YourbrotherJamesinparticular."

           "They’rerottenfools,butinthiscasetheironlycrimewasthattheytrustedyou.Theytrustedyournameandyourhonor."

           Again,shesawthelookofearnestnessandagainknewwithcertaintythatitwasgenuine,whenhesaid,"Yes.Theydid.Iknowit."

           "Anddoyoufinditamusing?"

           "No.Idon’tfinditamusingatall."