Changes

On December 10, 2016, Lillian Rearden gave a dinner party at the Rearden home, to celebrate their anniversary. Henry did not appreciate the sort of guests that Lillian invited. They included a syndicated columnist named Bertram Scudder, whose politics Henry detested.

On December 10, 2016, Lillian Rearden gave a dinner party at the Rearden home, to celebrate their anniversary. Henry did not appreciate the sort of guests that Lillian invited. They included a syndicated columnist named Bertram Scudder, whose politics Henry detested.

But the guests also included [[Francisco d'Anconia]], heir of the D'Anconia Copper Company, whom Henry knew only to be a [[playboy]]. Francisco d'Anconia had been in the news lately after his San Sebastian Mines in Mexico had been nationalized, and then turned out to be worthless. Henry couldn't decide whether Francisco d'Anconia was a totally inept businessman or whether he had played a colossal and expensive joke on the People's State of Mexico. Nor did Francisco provide many clues when he introduced himself to Henry.

But the guests also included [[Francisco d'Anconia]], heir of the D'Anconia Copper Company, whom Henry knew only to be a [[playboy]]. Francisco d'Anconia had been in the news lately after his San Sebastián Mines in [[Mexico]] had been nationalized, and then turned out to be worthless. Henry couldn't decide whether Francisco d'Anconia was a totally inept businessman or whether he had played a colossal and expensive joke on the People's State of Mexico. Nor did Francisco provide many clues when he introduced himself to Henry.

Dagny Taggart was another of his dinner guests that evening. Henry was embarrassed to watch Dagny approach Lillian, who was making several empty boasts about her plain-looking bracelet of Rearden Metal. Lillian half-jokingly offered it for sale to any woman who offered a more valuable bracelet—and Dagny took off her own diamond bracelet and derisively challenged Lillian to consider her sale made. Lillian did so, and the bracelets actually changed hands.

Dagny Taggart was another of his dinner guests that evening. Henry was embarrassed to watch Dagny approach Lillian, who was making several empty boasts about her plain-looking bracelet of Rearden Metal. Lillian half-jokingly offered it for sale to any woman who offered a more valuable bracelet—and Dagny took off her own diamond bracelet and derisively challenged Lillian to consider her sale made. Lillian did so, and the bracelets actually changed hands.