Атлант расправил плечи

           Mustbeaprettygoodfriend,ifyou’llgotosomuchtroubletofindhim,youandthecharmingladywhoisnotyourwife."

           DagnysawRearden’sfacegowhite,sothatevenhislipsbecameasculpturedfeature,indistinguishableagainsthisskin."Keepyourdirty—"hebegan,butshesteppedbetweenthem.

           "WhydoyouthinkthatIamnothiswife?"sheaskedcalmly.

           MayorBascomlookedastonishedbyRearden’sreaction;hehadmadetheremarkwithoutmalice,merelylikeafellowcheatdisplayinghisshrewdnesstohispartnersinguilt.

           "Lady,I’veseenalotinmylifetime,"hesaidgood-naturedly."Marriedpeopledon’tlookasiftheyhaveabedroomontheirmindswhentheylookateachother.Inthisworld,eitheryou’revirtuousoryouenjoyyourself.Notboth,lady,notboth."

           "I’veaskedhimaquestion,"shesaidtoReardenintimetosilencehim."He’sgivenmeaninstructiveexplanation."

           "Ifyouwantatip,lady,"saidMayorBascom,"getyourselfaweddingringfromthedimestoreandwearit.It’snotsurefire,butithelps."

           "Thankyou,"shesaid,"Good-bye."

           Thestern,stressedcalmofhermannerwasacommandthatmadeReardenfollowherbacktotheircarinsilence.

           Theyweremilesbeyondthetownwhenhesaid,notlookingather,hisvoicedesperateandlow,"Dagny,Dagny,Dagny...I’msorry!"

           "I’mnot.