Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasonlyaninstant;thenheaskedevenly,"Whatmakesyouthinkhehas?"

           "Well,hashe?"

           "YouknowthatthereareonlyfourHalleyConcertos."

           "Yes.ButIwonderedwhetherhehadwrittenanotherone."

           "Hehasstoppedwriting."

           "Iknow."

           "Thenwhatmadeyouaskthat?"

           "Justanidlethought.Whatishedoingnow?Whereishe?"

           "Idon’tknow.Ihaven’tseenhimforalongtime.WhatmadeyouthinkthattherewasaFifthConcerto?"

           "Ididn’tsaytherewas.Imerelywonderedaboutit."

           "WhydidyouthinkofRichardHalleyjustnow?"

           "Because"—shefelthercontrolcrackingalittle—"becausemymindcan’tmaketheleapfromRichardHalley’smusicto...toMrs.GilbertVail."

           Helaughed,relieved."Oh,that?...Incidentally,ifyou’vebeenfollowingmypublicity,haveyounoticedafunnylittlediscrepancyinthestoryofMrs.GilbertVail?"

           "Idon’treadthestuff."

           "Youshould.ShegavesuchabeautifuldescriptionoflastNewYear’sEve,whichwespenttogetherinmyvillaintheAndes.Themoonlightonthemountainpeaks,andtheblood-redflowershangingonvinesintheopenwindows.Seeanythingwronginthepicture?"

           Shesaidquietly,"It’sIwhoshouldaskyouthat,andI’mnotgoingto."

           "Oh,Iseenothingwrong—exceptthatlastNewYear’sEveIwasinElPaso,Texas,presidingattheopeningoftheSanSebastiánLineofTaggartTranscontinental,asyoushouldremember,evenifyoudidn’tchoosetobepresentontheoccasion.