«Великий Гэтсби» и другие лучшие произведения Ф.С. Фицджеральда

It appreciated fully the chain of national circumstances which had elicited this tribute from Montenegro’s warm little heart. My incredulity was submerged in fascination now; it was like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines.

He reached in his pocket, and a piece of metal, slung on a ribbon, fell into my palm.

�That’s the one from Montenegro.’

To my astonishment, the thing had an authentic look. �Orderi di Danilo’, ran the circular legend, �Montenegro, Nicolas Rex’.

�Turn it.’

�Major Jay Gatsby’, I read, �For Valour Extraordinary.

�Here’s another thing I always carry. A souvenir of Oxford days. It was taken in Trinity Quad[58 - Trinity Quad – here: Trinity College, founded in 1554] – the man on my left is now the Earl of Doncaster.’

It was a photograph of half a dozen young men in blazers loafing in an archway through which were visible a host of spires. There was Gatsby, looking a little, not much, younger – with a cricket bat in his hand.

Then it was all true. I saw the skins of tigers flaming in his palace on the Grand Canal[59 - the Grand Canal – the main waterway of Venice]; I saw him opening a chest of rubies to ease, with their crimson-lighted depths, the gnawings of his broken heart.

�I’m going to make a big request of you today,’ he said, pocketing his souvenirs with satisfaction, �so I thought you ought to know something about me.

I didn’t want you to think I was just some nobody. You see, I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me.’ He hesitated. �You’ll hear about it this afternoon.’

�At lunch?’

�No, this afternoon. I happened to find out that you’re taking Miss Baker to tea.’

�Do you mean you’re in love with Miss Baker?’

�No, old sport, I’m not. But Miss Baker has kindly consented to speak to you about this matter.

’

I hadn’t the faintest idea what �this matter’ was, but I was more annoyed than interested. I hadn’t asked Jordan to tea in order to discuss Mr. Jay Gatsby. I was sure the request would be something utterly fantastic, and for a moment I was sorry I’d ever set foot upon his overpopulated lawn.

He wouldn’t say another word. His correctness grew on him as we neared the city.