Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Hecouldnotguessherpurpose,butthiswasthemannerwhich,inthecodeheunderstood,meantthathehadbetterhearher.
"Howdoyoulikemyweddinggift,Jim?"sheasked,andlaughedathislookofembarrassment."No,no,don’ttrytogooverthelistofthingsinyourapartment,wonderingwhichonethehellitwas.It’snotinyourapartment,it’srighthere,andit’sanon-materialgift,darling."
Hesawthehalf-hintofasmileonherface,thelookunderstoodamonghisfriendsasaninvitationtoshareasecretvictory;itwasthelook,notofhavingoutthought,butofhavingoutsmartedsomebody.
Heansweredcautiously,withasafelypleasantsmile,"Yourpresenceisthebestgiftyoucouldgiveme."
"Mypresence,Jim?"
Thelinesofhisfacewereshock-boundforamoment.Heknewwhatshemeant,buthehadnotexpectedhertomeanit.
Shesmiledopenly."Webothknowwhosepresenceisthemostvaluableoneforyoutonight—andtheunexpectedone.Didn’tyoureallythinkofgivingmecreditforit?I’msurprisedatyou.Ithoughtyouhadageniusforrecognizingpotentialfriends."
Hewouldnotcommithimself;hekepthisvoicecarefullyneutral.
"HaveIfailedtoappreciateyourfriendship,Lillian?"
"Now,now,darling,youknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.
