Атлант расправил плечи

           Hesmiled,andsheknewthatthesmilewasintendedtobreakthebondwhichhe,too,hadfelt:thesmilehadatraceofcourteousmockery.Hesaid,"ButIdon’tbelievethatyoucameallthewayfromNewYorkjusttohuntforrailroadcooksintheRockies."

           "No.Icameforsomethingelse."Sheleanedforward,bothforearmsbracedfirmlyagainstthecounter,feelingcalmandintightcontrolagain,sensingadangerousadversary."Didyouknow,abouttenyearsago,ayoungengineerwhoworkedfortheTwentiethCenturyMotorCompany?"

           Shecountedthesecondsofapause;shecouldnotdefinethenatureofthewayhelookedather,exceptthatitwasthelookofsomespecialattentiveness.

           "Yes,Idid,"heanswered.

           "Couldyougivemehisnameandaddress?"

           "Whatfor?"

           "It’scruciallyimportantthatIfindhim."

           "Thatman?Ofwhatimportanceishe?"

           "Heisthemostimportantmanintheworld."

           "Really?Why?"

           "Didyouknowanythingabouthiswork?"

           "Yes."

           "Didyouknowthathehituponanideaofthemosttremendousconsequence?"

           Heletamomentpass."MayIaskwhoyouare?"

           "DagnyTaggart.I’mtheVice-Pres—"

           "Yes,MissTaggart.Iknowwhoyouare."

           Hesaiditwithimpersonaldeference.