Атлант расправил плечи

           Soyoukeptyourpromiseandyougotthejobforhim,becauseyouthoughtyouhadhim.Andsoyoudid.Andhepaidoffprettyhandsomely,didn’the?Butitworksonlyjustsolong.Afterawhile,Mr.WesleyMouchmightgettobesopowerfulandthescandalsoold,thatnobodywillcarehowhegothisstartorwhomhedouble-crossed.Nothinglastsforever.WesleywasRearden’sman,andthenhewasyourman,andhemightbesomebodyelse’smantomorrow"

           "Areyougivingmeahint?"

           "Whyno,I’mgivingyouafriendlywarning.We’reoldfriends.

           Jimmy,andIthinkthatthat’swhatweoughttoremain.Ithinkwecanbeveryusefultoeachother,youandI,ifyoudon’tstartgettingthewrongideasaboutfriendship.Me—Ibelieveinabalanceofpower."

           "DidyoupreventMouchfromcomingheretonight?"

           "Well,maybeIdidandmaybeIdidn’t.I’llletyouworryaboutit.

           That’sgoodforme,ifIdid—andstillbetter,ifIdidn’t."

           Cherryl’seyesfollowedJamesTaggartthroughthecrowd.Thefacesthatkeptshiftingandgatheringaroundherseemedsofriendlyandtheirvoicesweresoeagerlywarmthatshefeltcertaintherewasnomaliceanywhereintheroom.ShewonderedwhysomeofthemtalkedtoheraboutWashington,inahopeful,confidentialmannerofhalfsentences,half-hints,asiftheywereseekingherhelpforsomethingsecretshewassupposedtounderstand.