Атлант расправил плечи

           Shesawthefainttighteningofhisfacialmusclesand,simultaneously,thelookofsomethinggoingslackinthelinesofhisface;shecouldnottellwhatsortoflightwasdyingwithinhimnorwhatmadeherthinkofthedeathofalight.

           Hetossedthemanuscriptdownonthedeskwithacasual,contemptuousmovementofhiswrist."Thosemenwhodonotmindbeingpracticalenoughtoselltheirbrainsformoney,oughttoacquirealittleknowledgeoftheconditionsofpracticalreality."

           Helookedatherwithatouchofdefiance,asifwaitingforanangryanswer.Butheranswerwasworsethananger:herfaceremainedexpressionless,asifthetruthorfalsehoodofhisconvictionswereofnoconcerntoheranylonger.Shesaidpolitely,"ThesecondquestionIwantedtoaskyouwaswhetheryouwouldbekindenoughtotellmethenameofanyphysicistyouknowwho,inyourjudgment,wouldpossesstheabilitytoattemptthereconstructionofthismotor."

           Helookedatherandchuckled;itwasasoundofpain."Haveyoubeentorturedbyit,too,MissTaggart?Bytheimpossibilityoffindinganysortofintelligenceanywhere?"

           "IhaveinterviewedsomephysicistswhowerehighlyrecommendedtomeandIhavefoundthemtobehopeless."

           Heleanedforwardeagerly."MissTaggart,"heasked,"didyoucallonmebecauseyoutrustedtheintegrityofmyscientificjudgment?"

           Thequestionwasanakedplea.