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

As my taxi groaned, away I saw Gatsby walking toward me across his lawn.

�Your place looks like the World’s Fair,’ I said.

�Does it?’ He turned his eyes toward it absently. �I have been glancing into some of the rooms. Let’s go to Coney Island[71 - Coney Island – an amusement area in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City], old sport. In my car.’

�It’s too late.’

�Well, suppose we take a plunge in the swimming-pool? I haven’t made use of it all summer.’

�I’ve got to go to bed.

�All right.’

He waited, looking at me with suppressed eagerness.

�I talked with Miss Baker,’ I said after a moment. �I’m going to call up Daisy tomorrow and invite her over here to tea.’

�Oh, that’s all right,’ he said carelessly. �I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’

�What day would suit you?’

�What day would suit you?’ he corrected me quickly. �I don’t want to put you to any trouble, you see.’

�How about the day after tomorrow?’

He considered for a moment.

�I want to get the grass cut,’ he said.

We both looked down at the grass – there was a sharp line where my ragged lawn ended and the darker, well-kept expanse of his began. I suspected that he meant my grass.

�There’s another little thing,’ he said uncertainly, and hesitated.

�Would you rather put it off for a few days?’ I asked.

�Oh, it isn’t about that. At least – ’ He fumbled with a series of beginnings.

�Not very much.’

This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.

�I thought you didn’t, if you’ll pardon my – you see, I carry on a little business on the side, a sort of side line, you understand. And I thought that if you don’t make very much – You’re selling bonds, aren’t you, old sport?’

�Trying to.

�Well, this would interest you. It wouldn’t take up much of your time and you might pick up a nice bit of money. It happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing.’

I realize now that under different circumstances that conversation might have been one of the crises of my life. But, because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service to be rendered, I had no choice except to cut him off there.

�I’ve got my hands full,’ I said.