Атлант расправил плечи

           Hedidnotpronouncethewords,butthepainwastheirequivalent,theuglypainsaying:WhoamItocastthefirststone?

           Helethisbodyfallacrossthedesk...Dagny,hethought,Dagny,ifthisisthepriceIhavetopay,I’llpayit...Hewasstillthetraderwhoknewnocodeexceptthatoffullpaymentforhisdesires.

           Itwaslatewhenhecamehomeandhurriedsoundlesslyupthestairstohisbedroom.Hehatedhimselfforbeingreducedtosneaking,buthehaddoneitonmostofhiseveningsformonths.Thesightofhisfamilyhadbecomeunbearabletohim;hecouldnottellwhy.Don’thatethemforyourownguilt,hehadtoldhimself,butknewdimlythatthiswasnottherootofhishatred.

           Heclosedthedoorofhisbedroomlikeafugitivewinningamoment’sreprieve.Hemovedcautiously,undressingforbed:hewantednosoundtobetrayhispresencetohisfamily,hewantednocontactwiththem,notevenintheirownminds.

           Hehadputonhispajamasandstoppedtolightacigarette,whenthedoorofhisbedroomopened.Theonlypersonwhocouldproperlyenterhisroomwithoutknockinghadnevervolunteeredtoenterit,sohestaredblanklyforamomentbeforehewasabletobelievethatitwasLillianwhocamein.

           SheworeanEmpiregarmentofpalechartreuse,itspleatedskirtstreaminggracefullyfromitshighwaistline;onecouldnottellatfirstglancewhetheritwasaneveninggownoranegligee;itwasanegligee.