Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 4
Ihadn’tthefaintestideawhat"thismatter"was,butIwasmoreannoyedthaninterested.Ihadn’taskedJordantoteainordertodiscussMr.JayGatsby.Iwassuretherequestwouldbesomethingutterlyfantastic,andforamomentIwassorryI’deversetfootuponhisoverpopulatedlawn.
Hewouldn’tsayanotherword.Hiscorrectnessgrewonhimaswenearedthecity.WepassedPortRoosevelt,wheretherewasaglimpseofred-beltedocean-goingships,andspedalongacobbledslumlinedwiththedark,undesertedsaloonsofthefaded-giltnineteen-hundreds.Thenthevalleyofashesopenedoutonbothsidesofus,andIhadaglimpseofMrs.Wilsonstrainingatthegaragepumpwithpantingvitalityaswewentby.
WithfendersspreadlikewingswescatteredlightthroughhalfLongIslandCity—onlyhalf,foraswetwistedamongthepillarsoftheelevatedIheardthefamiliar"jug—jug—spat!"ofamotorcycle,andafranticpolicemanrodealongside.
"Allright,oldsport,"calledGatsby.Wesloweddown.Takingawhitecardfromhiswallet,hewaveditbeforetheman’seyes.
"Rightyouare,"agreedthepoliceman,tippinghiscap."Knowyounexttime,Mr.Gatsby.Excuseme!"
"Whatwasthat?"Iinquired.
"ThepictureofOxford?"
"Iwasabletodothecommissionerafavoronce,andhesendsmeaChristmascardeveryyear."
