Великий Гэтсби

           Therewastheboomofabassdrum,andthevoiceoftheorchestraleaderrangoutsuddenlyabovetheecholaliaofthegarden.

           "Ladiesandgentlemen,"hecried."AttherequestofMr.GatsbywearegoingtoplayforyouMr.VladimirTostoff’slatestwork,whichattractedsomuchattentionatCarnegieHalllastMay.Ifyoureadthepapers,youknowtherewasabigsensation."Hesmiledwithjovialcondescension,andadded:"Somesensation!"Whereuponeverybodylaughed.

           "Thepieceisknown,"heconcludedlustily,"asVladimirTostoff’sJazzHistoryoftheWorld."

           ThenatureofMr.Tostoff’scompositioneludedme,becausejustasitbeganmyeyesfellonGatsby,standingaloneonthemarblestepsandlookingfromonegrouptoanotherwithapprovingeyes.Histannedskinwasdrawnattractivelytightonhisfaceandhisshorthairlookedasthoughitweretrimmedeveryday.Icouldseenothingsinisterabouthim.Iwonderedifthefactthathewasnotdrinkinghelpedtosethimofffromhisguests,foritseemedtomethathegrewmorecorrectasthefraternalhilarityincreased.WhentheJazzHistoryoftheWorldwasover,girlswereputtingtheirheadsonmen’sshouldersinapuppyish,convivialway,girlswereswooningbackwardplayfullyintomen’sarms,evenintogroups,knowingthatsomeonewouldarresttheirfalls—butnooneswoonedbackwardonGatsby,andnoFrenchbobtouchedGatsby’sshoulder,andnosingingquartetswereformedwithGatsby’sheadforonelink.

           "Ibegyourpardon."

           Gatsby’sbutlerwassuddenlystandingbesideus.

           "MissBaker?"heinquired."Ibegyourpardon,butMr.Gatsbywouldliketospeaktoyoualone."