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

A little champagne? Nothing at all, thanks… I’m sorry —

�Did you have a nice ride?’

�Very good roads around here.’

�I suppose the automobiles – ’

�Yeah.’

Moved by an irresistible impulse, Gatsby turned to Tom, who had accepted the introduction as a stranger.

�I believe we’ve met somewhere before, Mr. Buchanan.’

�Oh, yes,’ said Tom, gruffly polite, but obviously not remembering. �So we did. I remember very well.’

�About two weeks ago.’

�That’s right.

�I know your wife,’ continued Gatsby, almost aggressively.

�That so?’

Tom turned to me.

�You live near here, Nick?’

�Next door.’

�That so?’

Mr. Sloane didn’t enter into the conversation, but lounged back haughtily in his chair; the woman said nothing either – until unexpectedly, after two highballs, she became cordial.

�We’ll all come over to your next party, Mr. Gatsby,’ she suggested. �What do you say?’

�Certainly; I’d be delighted to have you.

�Be ver’ nice,’ said Mr. Sloane, without gratitude. �Well – think ought to be starting home.’

�Please don’t hurry,’ Gatsby urged them. He had control of himself now, and he wanted to see more of Tom. �Why don’t you – why don’t you stay for supper? I wouldn’t be surprised if some other people dropped in from New York.’

�You come to supper with me,’ said the lady enthusiastically. �Both of you.

This included me. Mr. Sloane got to his feet.

�Come along,’ he said – but to her only.

�I mean it,’ she insisted. �I’d love to have you. Lots of room.’

Gatsby looked at me questioningly. He wanted to go, and he didn’t see that Mr. Sloane had determined he shouldn’t.

�I’m afraid I won’t be able to,’ I said.

�Well, you come,’ she urged, concentrating on Gatsby.

Mr. Sloane murmured something close to her ear.

�We won’t be late if we start now,’ she insisted aloud.

�I haven’t got a horse,’ said Gatsby. �I used to ride in the army, but I’ve never bought a horse. I’ll have to follow you in my car. Excuse me for just a minute.’

The rest of us walked out on the porch, where Sloane and the lady began an impassioned conversation aside.

�My God, I believe the man’s coming,’ said Tom. �Doesn’t he know she doesn’t want him?’

�She says she does want him.