Великий Гэтсби

           "Youtwostartonhome,Daisy,"saidTom."InMr.Gatsby’scar."

           ShelookedatTom,alarmednow,butheinsistedwithmagnanimousscorn.

           "Goon.Hewon’tannoyyou.Ithinkherealizesthathispresumptuouslittleflirtationisover."

           Theyweregone,withoutaword,snappedout,madeaccidental,isolated,likeghosts,evenfromourpity.

           AfteramomentTomgotupandbeganwrappingtheunopenedbottleofwhiskeyinthetowel.

           "Wantanyofthisstuff?Jordan?...Nick?"

           Ididn’tanswer.

           "Nick?"Heaskedagain.

           "What?"

           "Wantany?"

           "No...Ijustrememberedthatto-day’smybirthday."

           Iwasthirty.Beforemestretchedtheportentous,menacingroadofanewdecade.

           Itwasseveno’clockwhenwegotintothecoupewithhimandstartedforLongIsland.Tomtalkedincessantly,exultingandlaughing,buthisvoicewasasremotefromJordanandmeastheforeignclamoronthesidewalkorthetumultoftheelevatedoverhead.