Великий Гэтсби

           "Areyouinlovewithme,"shesaidlowinmyear,"orwhydidIhavetocomealone?"

           "That’sthesecretofCastleRackrent.Tellyourchauffeurtogofarawayandspendanhour."

           "Comebackinanhour,Ferdie."Theninagravemurmur:"HisnameisFerdie."

           "Doesthegasolineaffecthisnose?"

           "Idon’tthinkso,"shesaidinnocently."Why?"

           Wewentin.Tomyoverwhelmingsurprisetheliving-roomwasdeserted.

           "Well,that’sfunny,"Iexclaimed.

           "What’sfunny?"

           Sheturnedherheadastherewasalightdignifiedknockingatthefrontdoor.Iwentoutandopenedit.Gatsby,paleasdeath,withhishandsplungedlikeweightsinhiscoatpockets,wasstandinginapuddleofwaterglaringtragicallyintomyeyes.

           Withhishandsstillinhiscoatpocketshestalkedbymeintothehall,turnedsharplyasifhewereonawire,anddisappearedintotheliving-room.Itwasn’tabitfunny.AwareoftheloudbeatingofmyownheartIpulledthedoortoagainsttheincreasingrain.

           Forhalfaminutetherewasn’tasound.Thenfromtheliving-roomIheardasortofchokingmurmurandpartofalaugh,followedbyDaisy’svoiceonaclearartificialnote:"Icertainlyamawfullygladtoseeyouagain."