Атлант расправил плечи

           Franciscohadsaiditverysimply,neitherasareproachnoraplea,butinamannerwhich,strangely,acknowledgedRearden’sdignityandhisown.

           "No,"saidRearden,"whateverelseyouguessed,Ididnotsaythat."

           "Thankyou.Inthatcase,youwillallowmetospeaktoyou."

           "Whyshouldyouwishtospeaktome?"

           "Mymotivescannotinterestyouatpresent."

           "Mineisnotthesortofconversationthatcouldinterestyouatall."

           "Youaremistakenaboutoneofus,Mr.Rearden,orboth.Icametothispartysolelyinordertomeetyou."

           TherehadbeenafainttoneofamusementinRearden’svoice;nowithardenedintoahintofcontempt."Youstartedbyplayingitstraight.Sticktoit."

           "Iam."

           "Whatdidyouwanttomeetmefor?Inordertomakemelosemoney?"

           Franciscolookedstraightathim."Yes—eventually."

           "Whatisit,thistime?Agoldmine?"

           Franciscoshookhisheadslowly;theconsciousdeliberationofthemovementgaveitanairthatwasalmostsadness."No,"hesaid,"Idon’twanttosellyouanything.Asamatteroffact,IdidnotattempttosellthecopperminetoJamesTaggart,either.Hecametomeforit.Youwon’t."

           Reardenchuckled."Ifyouunderstandthatmuch,wehaveatleastasensiblebasisforconversation.Proceedonthat.Ifyoudon’thavesomefancyinvestmentinmind,whatdidyouwanttomeetmefor?"

           "Inordertobecomeacquaintedwithyou."

           "That’snotananswer.It’sjustanotherwayofsayingthesamething."

           "Notquite,Mr.Rearden."