Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Hedidnothearwhatshewassaying;shewaslaughinginthelastflickeroftheblueflames,whilehesatweighingthequestion:Didsheknow?Hefeltcertainthathehaddiscoveredasecretmuchgreaterthantheproblemofhismarriage,thathehadgraspedtheformulaofapolicypracticedmorewidelythroughouttheworldthanhedaredtocontemplateatthemoment.Buttoconvictahumanbeingofthatpracticewasaverdictofirrevocabledamnation,andheknewthathewouldnotbelieveitofanyone,solongasthepossibilityofadoubtremained.
No—hethought,lookingatLillian,withthelasteffortofhisgenerosity—hewouldnotbelieveitofher.Inthenameofwhatevergraceandprideshepossessed—inthenameofsuchmomentswhenhehadseenasmileofjoyonherface,thesmileofalivingbeing—inthenameofthebriefshadowoflovehehadoncefeltforher—hewouldnotpronounceuponheraverdictoftotalevil.
Thebutterslippedaplateofplumpuddinginfrontofhim,andheheardLillian’svoice:"Wherehaveyoubeenforthelastfiveminutes,Henry—orisitforthelastcentury?Youhaven’tansweredme.Youhaven’theardawordIsaid."
"Iheardit,"heansweredquietly."Idon’tknowwhatyou’retryingtoaccomplish."
"Whataquestion!"saidhismother."Isn’tthatjustlikeaman?
She’stryingtosaveyoufromgoingtojail—that’swhatshe’stryingtoaccomplish.
