Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Therewerealsothefacesofloose-mouthedyoungmenandmaliciouslyunkemptfemales,thekindwholedthebooinginnewsreeltheatersatanyappearanceofabusinessmanonthescreen;theydidnotattemptacounter-demonstration;theyweresilent.
Ashelookedatthecrowd,peoplesawinhisfacewhatthethreatsofthejudgeshadnotbeenabletoevoke:thefirstsignofemotion.
Itwasafewmomentsbeforetheyheardthefuriousbeatingofagaveluponthetableandoneofthejudgesyelling:"—orIshallhavethecourtroomcleared!"
Asheturnedbacktothetable,Rearden’seyesmovedoverthevisitors’section.HisglancepausedonDagny,apauseperceptibleonlytoher,asifheweresaying:Itworks.Shewouldhaveappearedcalmexceptthathereyesseemedtohavebecometoolargeforherface.
EddieWillerswassmilingthekindofsmilethatisaman’ssubstituteforbreakingintotears.Mr.Mowenlookedstupefied.PaulLarkinwasstaringatthefloor.TherewasnoexpressiononBertramScudder’sfaceonLillian’s.Shesatattheendofarow,herlegscrossed,aminkstoleslantingfromherrightshouldertoherlefthip;shelookedatRearden,notmoving.
Inthecomplexviolenceofallthethingshefelt,hehadtimetorecognizeatouchofregretandoflonging:therewasafacehehadhopedtosee,hadlookedforfromthestartofthesession,hadwantedtobepresentmorethananyotherfacearoundhim.ButFranciscod’Anconiahadnotcome.
