Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Helookedstraightatherforthefirsttime,hiseyesnarrowed,hisfacerelaxedtothesamehalf-smileashers,suggestingtheexpressionwhich,forbothofthem,meantthattheyfeltathomewitheachother:anexpressionofcontempt."YouknowthatIhavealwaysadmiredyou,Lillian,asoneofthetrulysuperiorwomen."

           "I’mawareofit."Therewasthefaintestcoatingofmockeryspread,likeshellac,overthesmoothnotesofhervoice.

           Hewasstudyingherinsolently."YoumustforgivemeifIthinkthatsomecuriosityispermissiblebetweenfriends,"hesaid,withnotoneofapology."I’mwonderingfromwhatangleyoucontemplatethepossibilityofcertainfinancialburdens—orlosses—whichaffectyourownpersonalinterests."

           Sheshrugged."Fromtheangleofahorsewoman,darling.Ifyouhadthemostpowerfulhorseintheworld,youwouldkeepitbridleddowntothegaitrequiredtocarryyouincomfort,eventhoughthismeantthesacrificeofitsfullcapacity,eventhoughitstopspeedwouldneverbeseenanditsgreatpowerwouldbewasted.Youwoulddoit—becauseifyouletthehorsegofullblast,itwouldthrowyouoffinnotime...However,financialaspectsarenotmychiefconcern—noryours,Jim."

           "Ididunderestimateyou,"hesaidslowly.

           "Oh,well,that’sanerrorI’mwillingtohelpyoucorrect.Iknowthesortofproblemhepresentstoyou.