Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 3
OncetheretheywereintroducedbysomebodywhoknewGatsby,andafterthattheyconductedthemselvesaccordingtotherulesofbehaviorassociatedwithamusementparks.SometimestheycameandwentwithouthavingmetGatsbyatall,cameforthepartywithasimplicityofheartthatwasitsownticketofadmission.
Ihadbeenactuallyinvited.Achauffeurinauniformofrobin’s-eggbluecrossedmylawnearlythatSaturdaymorningwithasurprisinglyformalnotefromhisemployer:thehonorwouldbeentirelyGatsby’s,itsaid,ifIwouldattendhis"littleparty"thatnight.Hehadseenmeseveraltimes,andhadintendedtocallonmelongbefore,butapeculiarcombinationofcircumstanceshadpreventedit—signedJayGatsby,inamajestichand.
DressedupinwhiteflannelsIwentovertohislawnalittleafterseven,andwanderedaroundratherillateaseamongswirlsandeddiesofpeopleIdidn’tknow—thoughhereandtherewasafaceIhadnoticedonthecommutingtrain.IwasimmediatelystruckbythenumberofyoungEnglishmendottedabout;allwelldressed,alllookingalittlehungry,andalltalkinginlow,earnestvoicestosolidandprosperousAmericans.Iwassurethattheyweresellingsomething:bondsorinsuranceorautomobiles.Theywereatleastagonizinglyawareoftheeasymoneyinthevicinityandconvincedthatitwastheirsforafewwordsintherightkey.
AssoonasIarrivedImadeanattempttofindmyhost,butthetwoorthreepeopleofwhomIaskedhiswhereaboutsstaredatmeinsuchanamazedway,anddeniedsovehementlyanyknowledgeofhismovements,thatIslunkoffinthedirectionofthecocktailtable—theonlyplaceinthegardenwhereasinglemancouldlingerwithoutlookingpurposelessandalone.
