Атлант расправил плечи

           Justthinkofwhatitmanagedtosurvivethroughtheages.Soifyoupeoplehavedecidedthatit’sthebestplaceforyourhiddenmoney,thatitcan’tbebeaten,thatitwouldtakeamostunusualkindofmantodestroyd’AnconiaCopper—youwereright."

           "Well,Ihearitsaidthatyou’vebeguntotakeyourresponsibilitiesseriouslyandthatyou’vesettleddowntobusinessatlast.Theysayyou’vebeenworkingveryhard."

           "Oh,hasanybodynoticedthat?Itwastheold-fashionedinvestorswhomadeitapointtowatchwhatthepresidentofacompanywasdoing.Themoderninvestorsdon’tfindknowledgenecessary.Idon’tthinktheyeverlookintomyactivities."

           Taggartsmiled."Theylookatthetickertapeofthestockexchange.

           Thattellsthewholestory,doesn’tit?"

           "Yes.Yes,itdoes—inthelongrun."

           "ImustsayI’mgladthatyouhaven’tbeenmuchofapartyhoundthispastyear.Theresultsshowinyourwork."

           "Dothey?Well,no,notquiteyet."

           "Isuppose,"saidTaggart,inthecautioustoneofanindirectquestion,"thatIshouldfeelflatteredyouchosetocometothisparty."

           "Oh,butIhadtocome.Ithoughtyouwereexpectingme."

           "Why,no,Iwasn’t...thatis,Imean—"

           "Youshouldhaveexpectedme,James.