Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Galtresumedhispacing."Theworldiscollapsing,"saidTaggart,hiseyesfollowingGaltirresistibly."Peopleareperishing—andit’syouwhocouldsavethem!Doesitmatterwho’srightorwrong?Youshouldjoinus,evenifyouthinkwe’rewrong,youshouldsacrificeyourmindtosavethem!"

           "BywhatmeanswillIthensavethem?"

           "Whodoyouthinkyouare?"criedTaggart.

           Galtstopped."Youknowit."

           "You’reanegoist!"

           "Iam."

           "Doyourealizewhatsortofegoistyouare?"

           "Doyou?"askedGalt,lookingstraightathim.

           ItwastheslowwithdrawalofTaggart’sbodyintothedepthofhisarmchair,whilehiseyeswereholdingGalt’s,thatmadeMr.Thompsonunaccountablyafraidofthenextmoment.

           "Say,"Mr.Thompsoninterruptedinabrightlycasualvoice,"whatsortofcigaretteareyousmoking?"

           Galtturnedtohimandsmiled."Idon’tknow."

           "Wheredidyougetit?"

           "Oneofyourguardsbroughtmeapackageofthem.Hesaidsomemanaskedhimtogiveittomeasapresent...Don’tworry,"headded,"yourboyshaveputitthrougheverykindoftest.Therewerenohiddenmessages.Itwasjustapresentfromananonymousadmirer."

           ThecigarettebetweenGalt’sfingersborethesignofthedollar.