Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Dagnyaskedslowly,asademand,indefianceofofficeetiquette,"WhoiswithMr.Danagger?"

           "Idon’tknow,MissTaggart.Ihaveneverseenthegentlemanbefore."Shenoticedthesudden,fixedstillnessofDagny’seyesandadded,"Ithinkit’sachildhoodfriendofMr.Danagger."

           "Oh!"saidDagny,relieved.

           "HecameinunannouncedandaskedtoseeMr.DanaggerandsaidthatthiswasanappointmentwhichMr.Danaggerhadmadewithhimfortyyearsago."

           "HowoldisMr.Danagger?"

           "Fifty-two,"saidthesecretary.Sheaddedreflectively,inthetoneofacasualremark,"Mr.Danaggerstartedworkingattheageoftwelve."

           Afteranothersilence,sheadded,"Thestrangethingisthatthevisitordoesnotlookasifhe’sevenfortyyearsold.Heseemstobeamaninhisthirties."

           "Didhegivehisname?"

           "No."

           "Whatdoeshelooklike?"

           Thesecretarysmiledwithsuddenanimation,asifshewereabouttoutteranenthusiasticcompliment,butthesmilevanishedabruptly.

           "Idon’tknow,"sheanswereduneasily."He’shardtodescribe.Hehasastrangeface."

           Theyhadbeensilentforalongtime,andthehandsofthedialwereapproaching3:50whenthebuzzerrangonthesecretary’sdesk—thebellfromDanagger’soffice,thesignalofpermissiontoenter.