Великий Гэтсби

           Thepolice,onthestrengthofwhathesaidtoMichaelis,thathe"hadawayoffindingout,"supposedthathespentthattimegoingfromgaragetogaragethereabout,inquiringforayellowcar.Ontheotherhand,nogaragemanwhohadseenhimevercameforward,andperhapshehadaneasier,surerwayoffindingoutwhathewantedtoknow.Byhalf-pasttwohewasinWestEgg,whereheaskedsomeonethewaytoGatsby’shouse.SobythattimeheknewGatsby’sname.

           Attwoo’clockGatsbyputonhisbathing-suitandleftwordwiththebutlerthatifanyonephonedwordwastobebroughttohimatthepool.Hestoppedatthegarageforapneumaticmattressthathadamusedhisguestsduringthesummer,andthechauffeurhelpedhimpumpitup.Thenhegaveinstructionsthattheopencarwasn’ttobetakenoutunderanycircumstances—andthiswasstrange,becausethefrontrightfenderneededrepair.

           Gatsbyshoulderedthemattressandstartedforthepool.Oncehestoppedandshifteditalittle,andthechauffeuraskedhimifheneededhelp,butheshookhisheadandinamomentdisappearedamongtheyellowingtrees.

           Notelephonemessagearrived,butthebutlerwentwithouthissleepandwaitedforituntilfouro’clock—untillongaftertherewasanyonetogiveittoifitcame.IhaveanideathatGatsbyhimselfdidn’tbelieveitwouldcome,andperhapshenolongercared.Ifthatwastruehemusthavefeltthathehadlosttheoldwarmworld,paidahighpriceforlivingtoolongwithasingledream.Hemusthavelookedupatanunfamiliarskythroughfrighteningleavesandshiveredashefoundwhatagrotesquethingaroseisandhowrawthesunlightwasuponthescarcelycreatedgrass.