Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 6
AtanyrateCodyaskedhimafewquestions(oneofthemelicitedthebrandnewname)andfoundthathewasquickandextravagantlyambitious.AfewdayslaterhetookhimtoDuluthandboughthimabluecoat,sixpairofwhiteducktrousers,andayachtingcap.AndwhentheTuolomeeleftfortheWestIndiesandtheBarbaryCoastGatsbylefttoo.
Hewasemployedinavaguepersonalcapacity—whileheremainedwithCodyhewasinturnsteward,mate,skipper,secretary,andevenjailor,forDanCodysoberknewwhatlavishdoingsDanCodydrunkmightsoonbeabout,andheprovidedforsuchcontingenciesbyreposingmoreandmoretrustinGatsby.Thearrangementlastedfiveyears,duringwhichtheboatwentthreetimesaroundtheContinent.ItmighthavelastedindefinitelyexceptforthefactthatEllaKayecameonboardonenightinBostonandaweeklaterDanCodyinhospitablydied.
IremembertheportraitofhimupinGatsby’sbedroom,agray,floridmanwithahard,emptyface—thepioneerdebauchee,whoduringonephaseofAmericanlifebroughtbacktotheEasternseaboardthesavageviolenceofthefrontierbrothelandsaloon.ItwasindirectlyduetoCodythatGatsbydranksolittle.Sometimesinthecourseofgaypartieswomenusedtorubchampagneintohishair;forhimselfheformedthehabitoflettingliquoralone.
AnditwasfromCodythatheinheritedmoney—alegacyoftwenty-fivethousanddollars.Hedidn’tgetit.Heneverunderstoodthelegaldevicethatwasusedagainsthim,butwhatremainedofthemillionswentintacttoEllaKaye.Hewasleftwithhissingularlyappropriateeducation;thevaguecontourofJayGatsbyhadfilledouttothesubstantialityofaman.
