Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 5
InsteadoftakingtheshortcutalongtheSoundwewentdowntheroadandenteredbythebigpostern.WithenchantingmurmursDaisyadmiredthisaspectorthatofthefeudalsilhouetteagainstthesky,admiredthegardens,thesparklingodorofjonquilsandthefrothyodorofhawthornandplumblossomsandthepalegoldodorofkiss-me-at-the-gate.Itwasstrangetoreachthemarblestepsandfindnostirofbrightdressesinandoutthedoor,andhearnosoundbutbirdvoicesinthetrees.
Andinside,aswewanderedthroughMarieAntoinettemusic-roomsandRestorationsalons,Ifeltthattherewereguestsconcealedbehindeverycouchandtable,underorderstobebreathlesslysilentuntilwehadpassedthrough.AsGatsbyclosedthedoorof"theMertonCollegeLibrary."IcouldhaveswornIheardtheowl-eyedmanbreakintoghostlylaughter.
Wewentup-stairs,throughperiodbedroomsswathedinroseandlavendersilkandvividwithnewflowers,throughdressing-roomsandpoolrooms,andbathroomswithsunkenbaths—intrudingintoonechamberwhereadishevelledmaninpajamaswasdoingliverexercisesonthefloor.ItwasMr.Klipspringer,the"boarder."Ihadseenhimwanderinghungrilyaboutthebeachthatmorning.FinallywecametoGatsby’sownapartment,abedroomandabath,andanAdamstudy,wherewesatdownanddrankaglassofsomeChartreusehetookfromacupboardinthewall.
Hehadn’tonceceasedlookingatDaisy,andIthinkherevaluedeverythinginhishouseaccordingtothemeasureofresponseitdrewfromherwell-lovedeyes.Sometimes,too,hestaredaroundathispossessionsinadazedway,asthoughinheractualandastoundingpresencenoneofitwasanylongerreal.Oncehenearlytoppleddownaflightofstairs.
