Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Whowastheotherpersongladtoseeyou?"

           Franciscoshruggedandsaidlightly,"Awoman."

           ReardennoticedthatFranciscohadledhimaside,awayfromthegroup,insoskillfullynaturalamannerthatneitherhenortheothershadknownitwasbeingdoneintentionally.

           "Ididn’texpecttofindyouhere,"saidFrancisco."Youshouldn’thavecometothisparty."

           "Whynot?"

           "MayIaskwhatmadeyoucome?"

           "Mywifewasanxioustoaccepttheinvitation."

           "ForgivemeifIputitinsuchform,butitwouldhavebeenmoreproperandlessdangerousifshehadaskedyoutotakeheronatourofwhorehouses."

           "Whatdangerareyoutalkingabout?"

           "Mr.Rearden,youdonotknowthesepeople’swayofdoingbusinessorhowtheyinterpretyourpresencehere.Inyourcode,butnotintheirs,acceptingaman’shospitalityisatokenofgoodwill,adeclarationthatyouandyourhoststandontermsofacivilizedrelationship.

           Don’tgivethemthatkindofsanction."

           "Thenwhydidyoucomehere?"

           Franciscoshruggedgaily."Oh,I—itdoesn’tmatterwhatIdo.I’monlyapartyhound."

           "Whatareyoudoingatthisparty?"

           "Justlookingforconquests.