Атлант расправил плечи

           Whenshestoppedspeaking,heasked,"Haveyoufinished?"

           "Yes,Ibelieveso."

           "Thenyouhadbettertakethetrainhomenow."

           Whenheundertookthemotionsnecessarytoremovehiseveningclothes,hediscoveredthathismusclesfeltasifhewereattheendofalongdayofphysicallabor.Hisstarchedshirtwaslimpwithsweat.

           Therewasneitherthoughtnorfeelingleftinhim,nothingbutasensethatmergedtheremnantsofboth,thesenseofcongratulationuponthegreatestvictoryhehadeverdemandedofhimself:thatLillianhadwalkedoutofthehotelsuitealive.

           EnteringRearden’soffice,Dr.FloydFerrisworetheexpressionofamansocertainofthesuccessofhisquestthathecouldaffordabenevolentsmile.Hespokewithasmooth,cheerfulassurance;Reardenhadtheimpressionthatitwastheassuranceofacardsharpwhohasspentaprodigiouseffortinmemorizingeverypossiblevariationofthepattern,andisnowsafeintheknowledgethateverycardinthedeckismarked.

           "Well,Mr.Rearden,"hesaid,bywayofgreeting,"Ididn’tknowthatevenahardenedhoundofpublicfunctionsandshakeroffamoushands,likemyself,couldstillgetathrilloutofmeetinganeminentman,butthat’swhatIfeelrightnow,believeitornot."

           "Howdoyoudo,"saidRearden.

           Dr.