Сборник лучших произведений американской классической литературы. Уровень 4

It occurred to me now that I had seen her, or a picture of her, somewhere before.

“You live in West Egg,” she remarked contemptuously. “I know somebody there.”

“I don't know a single – ”

“You must know Gatsby.”

“Gatsby?” demanded Daisy. “What Gatsby?”

Before I could reply that he was my neighbour dinner was announced. We went out.

“Civilization's going to pieces,” said Tom. “We don't look out the white race will be submerged. It's all scientific stuff; it's been proved.

”

The telephone rang and Tom left. Daisy suddenly threw her napkin on the table and excused herself and went into the house, too.

“Tom's got some woman in New York[23 - Tom's got some woman in New York. – У Тома есть женщина в Нью-Йорке.],” said Miss Baker. “She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner-time. Don't you think?”

Tom and Daisy were back at the table.

“We don't know each other very well, Nick,” said Daisy.

“Well, I've had a very bad time, and I'm pretty cynical about everything. I think everything's terrible anyhow. I KNOW. I've been everywhere and seen everything and done everything.”

Chapter 2

Tom Buchanan had a mistress[24 - mistress – любовница]. Though I was curious to see her I had no desire to meet her – but I did. I went up to New York with Tom on the train one afternoon and when we stopped he jumped to his feet.

“We're getting off!” he insisted.

“I want you to meet my girl.”

I followed him over a low white-washed railroad fence. I saw a garage – Repairs. GEORGE B. WILSON. Cars Bought and Sold[25 - Repairs. GEORGE B. WILSON. Cars Bought and Sold – Джордж Уилсон. Автомобили. Покупка, продажа и ремонт.] – and I followed Tom inside.

“Hello, Wilson, old man,” said Tom, “How's business?”

“I can't complain,” answered Wilson.

“When are you going to sell me that car?”

“Next week.”

Then I saw a woman. She was in the middle thirties[26 - She was in the middle thirties. – Она была лет тридцати пяти.], and faintly stout[27 - faintly stout – с наклонностью к полноте], but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can. She smiled slowly and walking through her husband as if he were a ghost shook hands with Tom.