Атлант расправил плечи

           Ithoughthewassmartenoughtostaywithinthelaw—whatever’sleftofitnowadays."

           MayorBascomsmiled,lookingattheminamannerofplacidfrankness.Hiseyeswereshrewdwithoutintelligence,hissmilegood-naturedwithoutkindness.

           "Idon’tthinkyoufolksaredetectives,"hesaid,"butevenifyouwere,itwouldn’tmattertome.Ididn’tgetanyrake-offfromMark,hedidn’tletmeinonanyofhisdeals,Ihaven’tanyideawherehe’sgonetonow."Hesighed."Ilikedthatfellow.Wishhe’dstayedaround.NevermindtheSundaysermons.Hehadtolive,didn’the?Hewasnoworsethananybody,onlysmarter.Somegetcaughtatitandsomedon’t—that’stheonlydifference...Nope,Ididn’tknowwhathewasgoingtodowithit,whenheboughtthatfactory.Sure,hepaidmequiteabitmorethantheoldboobytrapwasworth.Sure,hewasdoingmeafavorwhenheboughtit.Nope,Ididn’tputanypressureonhimtomakehimbuyit.Wasn’tnecessary.I’ddonehimafewfavorsbefore.There’splentyoflawsthat’ssortofmadeofrubber,andamayor’sinapositiontostretchthemabitforafriend.Well,whatthehell?That’stheonlywayanybodyevergetsrichinthisworld"—heglancedattheluxuriousblackcar—"asyououghttoknow."

           "Youweretellingusaboutthefactory,"saidRearden,tryingtocontrolhimself.

           "WhatIcan’tstand,"saidMayorBascom,"ispeoplewhotalkaboutprinciples.