Атлант расправил плечи

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           ThelamponthefloorbesidehimthrewbrokenbitsoflightacrossFrancisco’sface,asheleanedforward;thefacehadalookofguiltlessamusement."Ifyoucaretoglanceoverthosefrontpages,you’llseethatI’veneversaidanything.Itwasthewomenwhowereeagertorushintoprintwithstoriesinsinuatingthatbeingseenwithmeatarestaurantwasthesignofagreatromance.Whatdoyousupposethosewomenareafterbutthesamethingasthechaser—thedesiretogaintheirownvaluefromthenumberandfameofthementheyconquer?Onlyit’sonestepphonier,becausethevaluetheyseekisnotevenintheactualfact,butintheimpressiononandtheenvyofotherwomen.Well,Igavethosebitcheswhattheywanted—butwhattheyliterallywanted,withoutthepretensethattheyexpected,thepretensethathidesfromthemthenatureoftheirwish.Doyouthinktheywantedtosleepwithmeorwithanyman?Theywouldn’tbecapableofsorealandhonestadesire.Theywantedfoodfortheirvanity—andIgaveittothem.Igavethemthechancetoboasttotheirfriendsandtoseethemselvesinthescandalsheetsintherolesofgreatseductresses.Butdoyouknowthatitworksinexactlythesamewayaswhatyoudidatyourtrial?Ifyouwanttodefeatanykindofviciousfraud—complywithitliterally,addingnothingofyourowntodisguiseitsnature.Thosewomenunderstood.Theysawwhetherthere’sanysatisfactioninbeingenviedbyothersforafeatonehasnotachieved.