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           "

           Hewonderedwhyhehadtheimpressionthatthenameshockedherandthatsheansweredaninstanttoolate,"Hesaidthattoyou?"

           "Weweretalkingaboutquiteadifferentsubject."

           Inamoment,shesaidcalmly,"Isawyoutalkingtohim.Whichoneofyouwasinsultingtheother,thistime?"

           "Weweren’t.Dagny,whatdoyouthinkofhim?"

           "Ithinkthathe’sdoneitintentionally—thatsmash-upwe’reinfor,tomorrow."

           "Iknowhehas.Still,whatdoyouthinkofhimasaperson?"

           "Idon’tknow.Ioughttothinkthathe’sthemostdepravedpersonI’veevermet."

           "Yououghtto?Butyoudon’t?"

           "No.Ican’tquitemakemyselffeelcertainofit."

           Hesmiled."That’swhat’sstrangeabouthim.Iknowthathe’saliar,aloafer,acheapplayboy,themostviciouslyirresponsiblewasteofahumanbeingIeverimaginedpossible.Yet,whenIlookathim,IfeelthatifevertherewasamantowhomIwouldentrustmylife,he’stheone."

           Shegasped."Hank,areyousayingthatyoulikehim?"

           "I’msayingthatIdidn’tknowwhatitmeant,tolikeaman,Ididn’tknowhowmuchImissedit—untilImethim."

           "GoodGod,Hank,you’vefallenforhim!"

           "Yes—IthinkIhave."Hesmiled.