Великий Гэтсби

           Humansympathyhasitslimits,andwewerecontenttoletalltheirtragicargumentsfadewiththecitylightsbehind.Thirty—thepromiseofadecadeofloneliness,athinninglistofsinglementoknow,athinningbrief-caseofenthusiasm,thinninghair.ButtherewasJordanbesideme,who,unlikeDaisy,wastoowiseevertocarrywell-forgottendreamsfromagetoage.Aswepassedoverthedarkbridgeherwanfacefelllazilyagainstmycoat’sshoulderandtheformidablestrokeofthirtydiedawaywiththereassuringpressureofherhand.

           Sowedroveontowarddeaththroughthecoolingtwilight.

           TheyoungGreek,Michaelis,whoranthecoffeejointbesidetheashheapswastheprincipalwitnessattheinquest.Hehadsleptthroughtheheatuntilafterfive,whenhestrolledovertothegarage,andfoundGeorgeWilsonsickinhisoffice—reallysick,paleashisownpalehairandshakingallover.Michaelisadvisedhimtogotobed,butWilsonrefused,sayingthathe’dmissalotofbusinessifhedid.Whilehisneighborwastryingtopersuadehimaviolentracketbrokeoutoverhead.

           "I’vegotmywifelockedinupthere,"explainedWilsoncalmly."She’sgoingtostaytheretillthedayafterto-morrow,andthenwe’regoingtomoveaway."

           Michaeliswasastonished;theyhadbeenneighborsforfouryears,andWilsonhadneverseemedfaintlycapableofsuchastatement.Generallyhewasoneoftheseworn-outmen:whenhewasn’tworking,hesatonachairinthedoorwayandstaredatthepeopleandthecarsthatpassedalongtheroad.