Великий Гэтсби

           Ipickeditupwithawearybendandhandeditbacktoher,holdingitatarm’slengthandbytheextremetipofthecornerstoindicatethatIhadnodesignsuponit—buteveryonenearby,includingthewoman,suspectedmejustthesame.

           "Hot!"saidtheconductortofamiliarfaces."Someweather!hot!hot!hot!Isithotenoughforyou?Isithot?Isit...?"

           Mycommutationticketcamebacktomewithadarkstainfromhishand.Thatanyoneshouldcareinthisheatwhoseflushedlipshekissed,whoseheadmadedampthepajamapocketoverhisheart!

           ...ThroughthehalloftheBuchanans’houseblewafaintwind,carryingthesoundofthetelephonebellouttoGatsbyandmeaswewaitedatthedoor.

           "Themaster’sbody!"roaredthebutlerintothemouthpiece."I’msorry,madame,butwecan’tfurnishit—it’sfartoohottotouchthisnoon!"

           Whathereallysaidwas:"Yes...yes...I’llsee."

           Hesetdownthereceiverandcametowardus,glisteningslightly,totakeourstiffstrawhats.

           "Madameexpectsyouinthesalon!"hecried,needlesslyindicatingthedirection.Inthisheateveryextragesturewasanaffronttothecommonstoreoflife.

           Theroom,shadowedwellwithawnings,wasdarkandcool.DaisyandJordanlayuponanenormouscouch,likesilveridolsweighingdowntheirownwhitedressesagainstthesingingbreezeofthefans.