Атлант расправил плечи

           "Dagny,whydon’tyousitinthechairasoneissupposedto?"hesaidatlast;hisvoicewaspetulant."Nobodyholdsbusinessconferencesthisway." 

           "Ido." 

           Shewaited.Heasked,hiseyesavoidinghers, "DidyousaythatyouhaveorderedtherailfromRearden?" 

           "Yesterdayevening.IphonedhimfromCleveland." 

           "ButtheBoardhasn’tauthorizedit.Ihaven’tauthorizedit.Youhaven’tconsultedme." 

           Shereachedover,pickedupthereceiverofatelephoneonhisdeskandhandedittohim. 

           "CallReardenandcancelit,"shesaid. 

           JamesTaggartmovedbackinhischair. "Ihaven’tsaidthat,"heansweredangrily."Ihaven’tsaidthatatall." 

           "Thenitstands?" 

           "Ihaven’tsaidthat,either." 

           Sheturned. "Eddie,havethemdrawupthecontractwithReardenSteel.Jimwillsignit." ShetookacrumpledpieceofnotepaperfromherpocketandtossedittoEddie. "There’sthefiguresandterms." 

           Taggartsaid, "ButtheBoardhasn‘t—" 

           "TheBoardhasn’tanythingtodowithit. Theyauthorizedyoutobuytherailthirteenmonthsago. Whereyoubuyitisuptoyou." 

           "Idon’tthinkit’spropertomakesuchadecisionwithoutgivingtheBoardachancetoexpressanopinion. AndIdon’tseewhyIshouldbemadetotaketheresponsibility." 

           "Iamtakingit." 

           "Whatabouttheexpenditurewhich—" 

           "ReardenischarginglessthanOrrenBoyle’sAssociatedSteel." 

           "Yes,andwhataboutOrrenBoyle?" 

           "I’vecancelledthecontract.Wehadtherighttocancelitsixmonthsago."