Атлант расправил плечи
The Non-commercial
"Aright?Aren’tyoubeingold-fashioned,James?Butwhatisityouwanttoknow?"
"Well,firstofall,thatnationalization—whatareyougoingtodoaboutit?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?!"
"Butsurelyyoudon’twantmetodoanythingaboutit.Myminesandyourrailroadwereseizedbythewillofthepeople.Youwouldn’twantmetoopposethewillofthepeople,wouldyou?"
"Francisco,thisisnotalaughingmatter!"
"Ineverthoughtitwas."
"I’mentitledtoanexplanation!Youoweyourstockholdersanaccountofthewholedisgracefulaffair!Whydidyoupickaworthlessmine?Whydidyouwasteallthosemillions?Whatsortofrottenswindlewasit?"
Franciscostoodlookingathiminpoliteastonishment."Why,James,"hesaid,"Ithoughtyouwouldapproveofit."
"Approve?!"
"IthoughtyouwouldconsidertheSanSebastiánMinesasthepracticalrealizationofanidealofthehighestmoralorder.RememberingthatyouandIhavedisagreedsoofteninthepast,Ithoughtyouwouldbegratifiedtoseemeactinginaccordancewithyourprinciples."
"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"
Franciscoshookhisheadregretfully."Idon’tknowwhyyoushouldcallmybehaviorrotten.Ithoughtyouwouldrecognizeitasanhonestefforttopracticewhatthewholeworldispreaching.Doesn’teveryonebelievethatitiseviltobeselfish?IwastotallyselflessinregardtotheSanSebastianproject.Isn’titeviltopursueapersonalinterest?Ihadnopersonalinterestinitwhatever.
