Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 3
"Muchbetter."Iturnedagaintomynewacquaintance."Thisisanunusualpartyforme.Ihaven’tevenseenthehost.Iliveoverthere——"Iwavedmyhandattheinvisiblehedgeinthedistance,"andthismanGatsbysentoverhischauffeurwithaninvitation."Foramomenthelookedatmeasifhefailedtounderstand.
"I’mGatsby,"hesaidsuddenly.
"What!"Iexclaimed."Oh,Ibegyourpardon."
"Ithoughtyouknew,oldsport.I’mafraidI’mnotaverygoodhost."
Hesmiledunderstandingly—muchmorethanunderstandingly.Itwasoneofthoseraresmileswithaqualityofeternalreassuranceinit,thatyoumaycomeacrossfourorfivetimesinlife.Itfaced—orseemedtoface—thewholeexternalworldforaninstant,andthenconcentratedonyouwithanirresistibleprejudiceinyourfavor.Itunderstoodyoujustsofarasyouwantedtobeunderstood,believedinyouasyouwouldliketobelieveinyourself,andassuredyouthatithadpreciselytheimpressionofyouthat,atyourbest,youhopedtoconvey.Preciselyatthatpointitvanished—andIwaslookingatanelegantyoungrough-neck,ayearortwooverthirty,whoseelaborateformalityofspeechjustmissedbeingabsurd.SometimebeforeheintroducedhimselfI’dgotastrongimpressionthathewaspickinghiswordswithcare.
AlmostatthemomentwhenMr.Gatsbyidentifiedhimself,abutlerhurriedtowardhimwiththeinformationthatChicagowascallinghimonthewire.Heexcusedhimselfwithasmallbowthatincludedeachofusinturn.
"Ifyouwantanythingjustaskforit,oldsport,"heurgedme."Excuseme.Iwillrejoinyoulater."
