Великий Гэтсби

           "OrderidiDanilo,"ranthecircularlegend,"Montenegro,NicolasRex."

           "Turnit."

           "MajorJayGatsby,"Iread,"ForValourExtraordinary."

           "Here’sanotherthingIalwayscarry.AsouvenirofOxforddays.ItwastakeninTrinityQuad—themanonmyleftisnowtheEarlofDorcaster."

           Itwasaphotographofhalfadozenyoungmeninblazersloafinginanarchwaythroughwhichwerevisibleahostofspires.TherewasGatsby,lookingalittle,notmuch,younger—withacricketbatinhishand.

           Thenitwasalltrue.IsawtheskinsoftigersflaminginhispalaceontheGrandCanal;Isawhimopeningachestofrubiestoease,withtheircrimson-lighteddepths,thegnawingsofhisbrokenheart.

           "I’mgoingtomakeabigrequestofyouto-day,"hesaid,pocketinghissouvenirswithsatisfaction,"soIthoughtyououghttoknowsomethingaboutme.Ididn’twantyoutothinkIwasjustsomenobody.Yousee,IusuallyfindmyselfamongstrangersbecauseIdrifthereandtheretryingtoforgetthesadthingthathappenedtome."Hehesitated."You’llhearaboutitthisafternoon."

           "Atlunch?"

           "No,thisafternoon.Ihappenedtofindoutthatyou’retakingMissBakertotea."

           "Doyoumeanyou’reinlovewithMissBaker?"

           "No,oldsport,I’mnot.ButMissBakerhaskindlyconsentedtospeaktoyouaboutthismatter."