Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Taggartknewthatthemenwhohadcrawledathisfeetamomentago,whosehatredforFranciscod’Anconiawas,perhaps,greaterthanhisown,wereenjoyingthespectaclenonetheless.Theimplicationsofthisknowledgewereamongthethingshedidnotcaretoname.
FranciscobowedtoCherrylandofferedhisbestwishes,asifshewerethebrideofaroyalheir.Watchingnervously,Taggartfeltrelief—andatouchofnamelessresentment,which,ifnamed,wouldhavetoldhimhewishedtheoccasiondeservedthegrandeurthatFrancisco’smannergaveitforamoment.
HewasafraidtoremainbyFrancisco’ssideandafraidtolethimlooseamongtheguests,Hebackedafewtentativestepsaway,butFranciscofollowedhim,smiling.
"Youdidn’tthinkI’dwanttomissyourwedding,James—whenyou’remychildhoodfriendandbeststockholder?"
"What?"gaspedTaggart,andregrettedit:thesoundwasaconfessionofpanic.
Franciscodidnotseemtotakenoteofit;hesaid,hisvoicegailyinnocent,"Oh,butofcourseIknowit.Iknowthestoogebehindthestoogebehindeverynameonthelistofthestockholdersofd’AnconiaCopper.It’ssurprisinghowmanymenbythenameofSmithandGomezarerichenoughtoownbigchunksoftherichestcorporationintheworld—soyoucan’tblamemeifIwascurioustolearnwhatdistinguishedpersonsIactuallyhaveamongmyminoritystockholders.
