Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Butwhatwasthecodeonwhichsheacted?Whatsortofcodepermittedtheconceptofapunishmentthatrequiredthevictim’sownvirtueasthefueltomakeitwork?Acode—hethought—whichwoulddestroyonlythosewhotriedtoobserveit;apunishment,fromwhichonlythehonestwouldsuffer,whilethedishonestwouldescapeunhurt.Couldoneconceiveofaninfamylowerthantoequatevirtuewithpain,tomakevirtue,notvice,thesourceandmotivepowerofsuffering?Ifhewerethekindofrottershewasstrugglingtomakehimbelievehewas,thennoissueofhishonorandhismoralworthwouldmattertohim.Ifhewasn’t,thenwhatwasthenatureofherattempt?
Tocountuponhisvirtueanduseitasaninstrumentoftorture,topracticeblackmailwiththevictim’sgenerosityassolemeansofextortion,toacceptthegiftofaman’sgoodwillandturnitintoatoolforthegiver’sdestruction...hesatverystill,contemplatingtheformulaofsomonstrousanevilthathewasabletonameit,butnottobelieveitpossible.
Hesatverystill,heldbythehammeringofasinglequestion:DidLillianknowtheexactnatureofherscheme?—wasitaconsciouspolicy,devisedwithfullawarenessofitsmeaning?Heshuddered;hedidnothateherenoughtobelieveit.
Helookedather.
