Атлант расправил плечи

           AchunkofstonewithEgyptianhieroglyphslayonapedestalinacorneroftheoffice—thestatueofaHindugoddesswithsixspiderarmsstoodinaniche—andahugegraphofbewilderingmathematicaldetail,likethesaleschartofamail-orderhouse,hungonthewall.

           "Therefore,ifyou’rethinkingofyourrailroad,MissTaggart—as,ofcourse,youare,inviewofcertainpossibledevelopments—Imustpointouttoyouthatalthoughthewelfareofthecountryismyfirstconsideration,towhichIwouldnothesitatetosacrificeanyone’sprofits,still,Ihaveneverclosedmyearstoapleaformercyand—"

           Shelookedathimandunderstoodwhatitwasthathewantedfromher,whatsortofmotivekepthimgoing.

           "Idon’twishtodiscussmyrailroad,"shesaid,fightingtokeephervoicemonotonouslyflat,whileshewantedtoscreaminrevulsion."Anythingyouhavetosayonthesubject,youwillpleasesayittomybrother,Mr.JamesTaggart."

           "I’dthinkthatatatimelikethisyouwouldn’twanttopassuparareopportunitytopleadyourcasebefore—"

           "Haveyoupreservedanyrecordspertainingtothemotorfactory?"

           Shesatstraight,herhandsclaspedtighttogether.

           "Whatrecords?IbelieveItoldyouthatIlosteverythingIownedwhenthebankcollapsed."Hisbodyhadgoneslackoncemore,hisinteresthadvanished."ButIdonotmindit.WhatIlostwasmerematerialwealth.