Атлант расправил плечи

           Hismouthwastheonepartofhimwhichhecouldnotpulltightatanytime;itwasuncomfortablyprominentinhisleanface,attractingtheeyesofanylistener:whenhespoke,themovementranthroughhislowerlip,twistingitsmoistfleshintoextraneouscontortionsofitsown.

           "Iamnotashamedofit,"saidEugeneLawson."MissTaggart,IwantyoutoknowthatIamnotashamedofmypastcareeraspresidentoftheCommunityNationalBankofMadison."

           "Ihaven’tmadeanyreferencetoshame,"saidDagnycoldly.

           "Nomoralguiltcanbeattachedtome,inasmuchasIlosteverythingIpossessedinthecrashofthatbank.ItseemstomethatIwouldhavetherighttofeelproudofsuchasacrifice."

           "ImerelywantedtoaskyousomequestionsabouttheTwentiethCenturyMotorCompanywhich—"

           "Ishallbegladtoansweranyquestions.Ihavenothingtohide.Myconscienceisclear.Ifyouthoughtthatthesubjectwasembarrassingtome,youweremistaken."

           "Iwantedtoinquireaboutthemenwhoownedthefactoryatthetimewhenyoumadealoanto—"

           "Theywereperfectlygoodmen.Theywereaperfectlysoundrisk—though,ofcourse,Iamspeakinginhumanterms,notinthetermsofcoldcash,whichyouareaccustomedtoexpectfrombankers.Igrantedthemtheloanforthepurchaseofthatfactory,becausetheyneededthemoney.Ifpeopleneededmoney,thatwasenoughforme.Needwasmystandard,MissTaggart.