Атлант расправил плечи

           That—andDr.FloydFerris.Thatsmoothydidn’tlikeitabit,ohnotabit!—theelegantDr.FerrisoftheStateScienceInstitute,theservantofthepeople,withthepatent-leathervocabulary—buthecarrieditoffprettywell,Imustsay,onlyyoucouldseehimsquirmingineveryparagraph—Imean,thatinterviewhegaveoutthismorning,wherehesaid,‘ThecountrygaveReardenthatMetal,nowweexpecthimtogivethecountrysomethinginreturn.’Thatwasprettynifty,consideringwho’sbeenridingonthegravytrainand...well,considering.ThatwasbetterthanBertramScudder—Mr.Scuddercouldn’tthinkofanythingbut‘Nocomment,’whenhisfellowgentlemenofthepressaskedhimtovoicehissentiments.‘Nocomment’—fromBertramScudderwho’sneverbeenknowntoshuthistrapfromthedayhewasborn,aboutanythingyouaskhimordon’task,Abyssinianpoetryorthestateoftheladies’restroomsinthetextileindustry!AndDr.Pritchett,theoldfool,isgoingaroundsayingthatheknowsforcertainthatReardendidn’tinventthatMetal—becausehewastold,byanunnamedreliablesource,thatReardenstoletheformulafromapennilessinventorwhomhemurdered!"

           Hewaschucklinghappily.Shewaslisteningastoalectureonhighermathematics,graspingnothing,noteventhestyleofthelanguage,astylewhichmadethemysterygreater,becauseshewascertainthatitdidnotmean—comingfromhim—whatitwouldhavemeantanywhereelse.