Атлант расправил плечи

           TedNielsen,NielsenMotors,Colorado.LawrenceHammond,HammondCars,Colorado.AndrewStockton,StocktonFoundry,Colorado."Therewereafewfromotherstates;henoticedthename:"KennethDanagger,DanaggerCoal,Pennsylvania."Theamountsoftheirsubscriptionsvaried,fromsumsinfivefigurestosix.

           Hereachedforhisfountainpen,wroteatthebottomofthelist"HenryRearden,ReardenSteel,Pennsylvania—$1,000,000"andtossedthelistbacktoher.

           "Hank,"shesaidquietly,"Ididn’twantyouinonthis.You’veinvestedsomuchinReardenMetalthatit’sworseforyouthanforanyofus.Youcan’taffordanotherrisk."

           "Ineveracceptfavors,"heansweredcoldly.

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Idon’taskpeopletotakegreaterchancesonmyventuresthanItakemyself.Ifit’sagamble,I’llmatchanybody’sgambling.Didn’tyousaythatthattrackwasmyfirstshowcase?"

           Sheinclinedherheadandsaidgravely,"Allright.Thankyou."

           "Incidentally,Idon’texpecttolosethismoney.Iamawareoftheconditionsunderwhichthesebondscanbeconvertedintostockatmyoption.Ithereforeexpecttomakeaninordinateprofit—andyou’regoingtoearnitforme."

           Shelaughed."God,Hank,I’vespokentosomanyyellowfoolsthatthey’vealmostinfectedmeintothinkingoftheLineasofahopelessloss!Thanksforremindingme.