Атлант расправил плечи

           Hestudiedagreatdealandhespenthistimeonengineeringresearchofhisown,workinginthebasementofourhouse.Idon’tknowwhathedidwithhisnotesandexperimentalmodels.Ifoundnotraceoftheminthebasement,afterhisdeath.

           Hediedfiveyearsago,ofaheartailmentfromwhichhehadsufferedforsometime."

           Dagnyaskedhopelessly,"Didyouknowthenatureofhisexperiments?"

           "No.Iknowverylittleaboutengineering."

           "Didyouknowanyofhisprofessionalfriendsorco-workers,whomighthavebeenacquaintedwithhisresearch?"

           "No.WhenhewasatTwentiethCenturyMotors,heworkedsuchlonghoursthatwehadverylittletimeforourselvesandwespentittogether.Wehadnosociallifeatall.Heneverbroughthisassociatestothehouse."

           "WhenhewasatTwentiethCentury,didheevermentiontoyouamotorhehaddesigned,anentirelynewtypeofmotorthatcouldhavechangedthecourseofallindustry?"

           "Amotor?Yes.Yes,hespokeofitseveraltimes.Hesaiditwasaninventionofincalculableimportance.Butitwasnothewhohaddesignedit.Itwastheinventionofayoungassistantofhis."

           ShesawtheexpressiononDagny’sface,andaddedslowly,quizzically,withoutreproach,merelyinsadamusement,"Isee.