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

�She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me!’

At this point Jordan and I tried to go, but Tom and Gatsby insisted with competitive firmness that we remain – as though neither of them had anything to conceal and it would be a privilege to partake vicariously of their emotions.

�Sit down, Daisy,’ Tom’s voice groped unsuccessfully for the paternal note. �What’s been going on? I want to hear all about it.

�I told you what’s been going on,’ said Gatsby. �Going on for five years – and you didn’t know.’

Tom turned to Daisy sharply.

�You’ve been seeing this fellow for five years?’

�Not seeing,’ said Gatsby. �No, we couldn’t meet. But both of us loved each other all that time, old sport, and you didn’t know. I used to laugh sometimes’ – but there was no laughter in his eyes – �to think that you didn’t know.’

�Oh – that’s all.

�You’re crazy!’ he exploded. �I can’t speak about what happened five years ago, because I didn’t know Daisy then – and I’ll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of that’s a God damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.’

�No,’ said Gatsby, shaking his head.

�She does, though. The trouble is that sometimes she gets foolish ideas in her head and doesn’t know what she’s doing.’ He nodded sagely. �And what’s more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time.’

�You’re revolting,’ said Daisy. She turned to me, and her voice, dropping an octave lower, filled the room with thrilling scorn: �Do you know why we left Chicago? I’m surprised that they didn’t treat you to the story of that little spree.

Gatsby walked over and stood beside her.

�Daisy, that’s all over now,’ he said earnestly. �It doesn’t matter anymore. Just tell him the truth – that you never loved him – and it’s all wiped out forever.’

She looked at him blindly. �Why – how could I love him – possibly?’

�You never loved him.’

She hesitated.