Великий Гэтсби

           WithaneffortImanagedtorestrainmyincredulouslaughter.Theveryphraseswerewornsothreadbarethattheyevokednoimageexceptthatofaturbaned"character"leakingsawdustateveryporeashepursuedatigerthroughtheBoisdeBoulogne.

           "Thencamethewar,oldsport.Itwasagreatrelief,andItriedveryhardtodie,butIseemedtobearanenchantedlife.Iacceptedacommissionasfirstlieutenantwhenitbegan.IntheArgonneForestItooktwomachine-gundetachmentssofarforwardthattherewasahalfmilegaponeithersideofuswheretheinfantrycouldn’tadvance.Westayedtheretwodaysandtwonights,ahundredandthirtymenwithsixteenLewisguns,andwhentheinfantrycameupatlasttheyfoundtheinsigniaofthreeGermandivisionsamongthepilesofdead.Iwaspromotedtobeamajor,andeveryAlliedgovernmentgavemeadecoration—evenMontenegro,littleMontenegrodownontheAdriaticSea!"

           LittleMontenegro!Heliftedupthewordsandnoddedatthem—withhissmile.ThesmilecomprehendedMontenegro’stroubledhistoryandsympathizedwiththebravestrugglesoftheMontenegrinpeople.ItappreciatedfullythechainofnationalcircumstanceswhichhadelicitedthistributefromMontenegro’swarmlittleheart.Myincredulitywassubmergedinfascinationnow;itwaslikeskimminghastilythroughadozenmagazines.

           Hereachedinhispocket,andapieceofmetal,slungonaribbon,fellintomypalm.

           "That’stheonefromMontenegro."

           Tomyastonishment,thethinghadanauthenticlook.