Атлант расправил плечи

           IhadmypicturetakenwithmyarmsaroundyourbrotherJamesandtheSeñorOrrenBoyle."

           Shegasped,rememberingthatthiswastrue,rememberingalsothatshehadseenMrs.Vail’sstoryinthenewspapers.

           "Francisco,what...whatdoesthatmean?"

           Hechuckled."Drawyourownconclusions....Dagny"—hisfacewasserious—"whydidyouthinkofHalleywritingaFifthConcerto?Whynotanewsymphonyoropera?Whyspecificallyaconcerto?"

           "Whydoesthatdisturbyou?"

           "Itdoesn’t."Headdedsoftly,"Istilllovehismusic,Dagny."Thenhespokelightlyagain."Butitbelongedtoanotherage.Ourageprovidesadifferentkindofentertainment."

           Herolledoveronhisbackandlaywithhishandscrossedunderhishead,lookingupasifhewerewatchingthescenesofamoviefarceunrollingontheceiling.

           "Dagny,didn’tyouenjoythespectacleofthebehaviorofthePeople’sStateofMexicoinregardtotheSanSebastiánMines?Didyoureadtheirgovernment’sspeechesandtheeditorialsintheirnewspapers?They’resayingthatIamanunscrupulouscheatwhohasdefraudedthem.Theyexpectedtohaveasuccessfulminingconcerntoseize.Ihadnorighttodisappointthemlikethat.Didyoureadaboutthescabbylittlebureaucratwhowantedthemtosueme?"

           Helaughed,lyingflatonhisback;hisarmswerethrownwideonthecarpet,formingacrosswithhisbody;heseemeddisarmed,relaxedandyoung.

           "Itwasworthwhateverit’scostme.Icouldaffordthepriceofthatshow.