Атлант расправил плечи

           Nottoinquireaboutmyaims,motivesordesiresisanessentialpartoftheirtheory."

           "Ifyoudidn’twanttomakemoney,whatpossiblemotivecouldyouhavehad?"

           "Anynumberofthem.Forinstance,tospendit."

           "Tospendmoneyonacertain,totalfailure?"

           "HowwasItoknowthatthosemineswereacertain,totalfailure?"

           "Howcouldyouhelpknowingit?"

           "Quitesimply.Bygivingitnothought."

           "Youstartedthatprojectwithoutgivingitanythought?"

           "No,notexactly.ButsupposeIslippedup?I’monlyhuman.Imadeamistake.Ifailed.Imadeabadjobofit."Heflickedhiswrist;acrystalmarbleshot,sparkling,acrossthefloorandcrackedviolentlyagainstabrownoneattheotherendoftheroom.

           "Idon’tbelieveit,"shesaid.

           "No?Buthaven’tItherighttobewhatisnowacceptedashuman?ShouldIpayforeverybody’smistakesandneverbepermittedoneofmyown?"

           "That’snotlikeyou."

           "No?"Hestretchedhimselffull-lengthonthecarpet,lazily,relaxing."DidyouintendmetonoticethatifyouthinkIdiditonpurpose,thenyoustillgivemecreditforhavingapurpose?You’restillunabletoacceptmeasabum?"

           Sheclosedhereyes.Sheheardhimlaughing;itwasthegayestsoundintheworld.Sheopenedhereyeshastily;buttherewasnohintofcrueltyinhisface,onlypurelaughter.

           "Mymotive,Dagny?Youdon’tthinkthatit’sthesimplestoneofall—thespurofthemoment?"

           No,shethought,no,that’snottrue;notifhelaughedlikethat,notifhelookedashedid.