Dominique barely survives that first night. She is in the hospital for several days before she is finally allowed to go home. Wynand tells her that she went too far, that she should have known what glass can do. He knows she cut herself and had a part in Roark’s destruction of the Cortlandt housing project. He had personally paid the bail for Roark. He approves of the destruction but is concerned about his and Dominique’s part in it. He teases Dominique, calling Roark her lover. She knows then that he has not guessed her true relationship with Roark. Roark comes to see Dominique. He tells her that, should he be convicted, she must stay with Wynand. However, if he is acquitted, she must come finally to be with him. Dominique understands the true friendship that Roark feels for Wynand. She regrets how hurt Wynand will be if Roark is acquitted.

Wynand begins to write editorials in support of Roark. His staff is outraged, and The Banner begins to spiral downward. Soon it is sold only under the counter. In the eyes of the public, Roark is worse than a murderer. He has destroyed attempts to lift the poor out of poverty. Some see the similarity between the Cortlandt housing project and Roark’s buildings; they assume Roark felt resentful of Keating for borrowing his ideas. As Wynand’s staff further resists his efforts to defend Roark, Wynand can see the influence that Toohey has had, driving a wedge between Roark and his journalists.

Ellsworth Toohey goes to Peter Keating’s home, where Keating is hiding out from the newspapers. Toohey laughs at him for this and points out that Keating used to seek out the newspapers. Toohey badgers Keating, pressuring him to admit that Roark was the one who designed the Cortlandt homes. Keating insists that he designed them himself. Finally he gives Toohey the contract that he and Roark signed. Keating cowers on the floor as Toohey forces him to see Toohey as he really is. He explains that he is concerned only with power, that he believes true selflessness is nonexistent. He wants Roark in jail so that every minute of his day he will be forced to submit to someone else’s power. Keating realizes that he is tied to Toohey. Toohey recognizes this, too.

Wynand returns from an unsuccessful meeting to keep a major advertiser to find that Toohey has written an article condemning Roark. Wynand immediately fires Toohey and all those involved in getting the article into print. Toohey warns him that he will return, and when he does, he will be the one running the paper. As a result of these firings, most of the workers, both union and nonunion, go on strike. The strike becomes violent; some sustain injuries and a few die. But Wynand refuses to give in. He has very few people to put out the paper. Dominique comes to reclaim her old job. She does whatever needs doing, from writing major articles to sweeping the floor. Wynand has refused to allow Roark to come to see him, but eventually he goes to see Roark. Roark tells him to stay strong. The Banner prints fewer and fewer copies, but even those go unsold and are left stacked up in the hallways.