Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 4
Sohewasawareofthebizarreaccusationsthatflavoredconversationinhishalls.
"I’lltellyouGod’struth."Hisrighthandsuddenlyordereddivineretributiontostandby."IamthesonofsomewealthypeopleintheMiddleWest—alldeadnow.IwasbroughtupinAmericabuteducatedatOxford,becauseallmyancestorshavebeeneducatedthereformanyyears.Itisafamilytradition."
Helookedatmesideways—andIknewwhyJordanBakerhadbelievedhewaslying.Hehurriedthephrase"educatedatOxford,"orswallowedit,orchokedonit,asthoughithadbotheredhimbefore.Andwiththisdoubt,hiswholestatementfelltopieces,andIwonderediftherewasn’tsomethingalittlesinisterabouthim,afterall.
"WhatpartoftheMiddleWest?"Iinquiredcasually.
"SanFrancisco."
"Isee."
"MyfamilyalldiedandIcameintoagooddealofmoney."
Hisvoicewassolemn,asifthememoryofthatsuddenextinctionofaclanstillhauntedhim.ForamomentIsuspectedthathewaspullingmyleg,butaglanceathimconvincedmeotherwise.
"AfterthatIlivedlikeayoungrajahinallthecapitalsofEurope—Paris,Venice,Rome—collectingjewels,chieflyrubies,huntingbiggame,paintingalittle,thingsformyselfonly,andtryingtoforgetsomethingverysadthathadhappenedtomelongago."
