Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Francisco,"shewhispered,"whydon’tyoutellmewhatitwasthathappenedtoyou?"

           "Because,atthismoment,theanswerwouldhurtyoumorethanthedoubt."

           "Isitasterribleasthat?"

           "Itisananswerwhichyoumustreachbyyourself."

           Sheshookherhead."Idon’tknowwhattoofferyou.Idon’tknowwhatisofvaluetoyouanylonger.Don’tyouseethatevenabeggarhastogivevalueinreturn,hastooffersomereasonwhyyoumightwanttohelphim?...Well,Ithought...atonetime,itmeantagreatdealtoyou—success.Industrialsuccess.Rememberhowweusedtotalkaboutit?Youwereverysevere.Youexpectedalotfromme.

           YoutoldmeI’dbetterliveuptoit.Ihave.YouwonderedhowfarI’drisewithTaggartTranscontinental."Shemovedherhand,pointingattheoffice."ThisishowfarI’verisen...SoIthought...ifthememoryofwhathadbeenyourvaluesstillhassomemeaningforyou,ifonlyasamusement,oramoment’ssadness,orjustlike...likeputtingflowersonagrave...youmightwanttogivemethemoney...inthenameofthat."

           "No."

           Shesaid,witheffort,"Thatmoneywouldmeannothingtoyou—you’vewastedthatmuchonsenselessparties—you’vewastedmuchmoreontheSanSebastianMines—"

           Heglancedup.