Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasthebest-cookedfoodshehadevertasted,theproductofsimpleingredientsandofanunusualskill.Twoworkerswerefinishingtheirdinner;shewaswaitingforthemtodepart.

           Shestudiedthemanbehindthecounter.Hewasslenderandtall;hehadanairofdistinctionthatbelongedinanancientcastleorintheinnerofficeofabank;buthispeculiarqualitycamefromthefactthathemadethedistinctionseemappropriatehere,behindthecounterofadiner.Heworeacook’swhitejacketasifitwereafull-dresssuit.Therewasanexpertcompetenceinhismannerofworking;hismovementswereeasy,intelligentlyeconomical.Hehadaleanfaceandgrayhairthatblendedintonewiththecoldblueofhiseyes;somewherebeyondhislookofcourteoussternness,therewasanoteofhumor,sofaintthatitvanishedifonetriedtodiscernit.

           Thetwoworkersfinished,paidanddeparted,eachleavingadimeforatip.Shewatchedthemanasheremovedtheirdishes,putthedimesintothepocketofhiswhitejacket,wipedthecounter,workingwithswiftprecision.Thenheturnedandlookedather.Itwasanimpersonalglance,notintendedtoinviteconversation;butshefeltcertainthathehadlongsincenotedherNewYorksuit,herhigh-heeledpumps,herairofbeingawomanwhodidnotwastehertime;hiscold,observanteyesseemedtotellherthatheknewshedidnotbelonghereandthathewaswaitingtodiscoverherpurpose.

           "Howisbusiness?"sheasked.