VI

ToyoungGatz,restingonhisoarsandlookingupattheraileddeck,thatyachtrepresentedallthebeautyandglamourintheworld.IsupposehesmiledatCody—hehadprobablydiscoveredthatpeoplelikedhimwhenhesmiled.AtanyrateCodyaskedhimafewquestions(oneofthemelicitedthebrandnewname)andfoundthathewasquickandextravagantlyambitious.AfewdayslaterhetookhimtoDuluthandboughthimabluecoat,sixpairsofwhiteducktrousers,andayachtingcap.AndwhentheTuolomeeleftfortheWestIndiesandtheBarbaryCoast,Gatsbylefttoo. Hewasemployedinavaguepersonalcapacity—whileheremainedwithCodyhewasinturnsteward,mate,skipper,secretary,andevenjailor,forDanCodysoberknewwhatlavishdoingsDanCodydrunkmightsoonbeabout,andheprovidedforsuchcontingenciesbyreposingmoreandmoretrustinGatsby.Thearrangementlastedfiveyears,duringwhichtheboatwentthreetimesaroundtheContinent.ItmighthavelastedindefinitelyexceptforthefactthatEllaKayecameonboardonenightinBostonandaweeklaterDanCodyinhospitablydied. IremembertheportraitofhimupinGatsby’sbedroom,agrey,floridmanwithahard,emptyface—thepioneerdebauchee,whoduringonephaseofAmericanlifebroughtbacktotheEasternseaboardthesavageviolenceofthefrontierbrothelandsaloon.ItwasindirectlyduetoCodythatGatsbydranksolittle.Sometimesinthecourseofgaypartieswomenusedtorubchampagneintohishairforhimselfheformedthehabitoflettingliquoralone. AnditwasfromCodythatheinheritedmoney—alegacyoftwenty-fivethousanddollars.Hedidn’tgetit.Heneverunderstoodthelegaldevicethatwasusedagainsthim,butwhatremainedofthemillionswentintacttoEllaKaye.HewasleftwithhissingularlyappropriateeducationthevaguecontourofJayGatsbyhadfilledouttothesubstantialityofaman. Hetoldmeallthisverymuchlater,butI’veputitdownherewiththeideaofexplodingthosefirstwildrumoursabouthisantecedents,whichweren’tevenfaintlytrue.Moreoverhetoldittomeatatimeofconfusion,whenIhadreachedthepointofbelievingeverythingandnothingabouthim.SoItakeadvantageofthisshorthalt,whileGatsby,sotospeak,caughthisbreath,toclearthissetofmisconceptionsaway. Itwasahalt,too,inmyassociationwithhisaffairs.ForseveralweeksIdidn’tseehimorhearhisvoiceonthephone—mostlyIwasinNewYork,trottingaroundwithJordanandtryingtoingratiatemyselfwithhersenileaunt—butfinallyIwentovertohishouseoneSundayafternoon.Ihadn’tbeentheretwominuteswhensomebodybroughtTomBuchananinforadrink.Iwasstartled,naturally,butthereallysurprisingthingwasthatithadn’thappenedbefore. Theywereapartyofthreeonhorseback—TomandamannamedSloaneandaprettywomaninabrownriding-habit,whohadbeentherepreviously. “I’mdelightedtoseeyou,”saidGatsby,standingonhisporch.“I’mdelightedthatyoudroppedin.” Asthoughtheycared! “Sitrightdown.Haveacigaretteoracigar.”Hewalkedaroundtheroomquickly,ringingbells.“I’llhavesomethingtodrinkforyouinjustaminute.” HewasprofoundlyaffectedbythefactthatTomwasthere.Buthewouldbeuneasyanyhowuntilhehadgiventhemsomething,realizinginavaguewaythatthatwasalltheycamefor.Mr.Sloanewantednothing.Alemonade?No,thanks.Alittlechampagne?Nothingatall,thanks…I’msorry— “Didyouhaveaniceride?” “Verygoodroadsaroundhere.” “Isupposetheautomobiles—” “Yeah.” Movedbyanirresistibleimpulse,GatsbyturnedtoTom,whohadacceptedtheintroductionasastranger. “Ibelievewe’vemetsomewherebefore,Mr.Buchanan.” “Oh,yes,”saidTom,grufflypolite,butobviouslynotremembering.“Sowedid.Irememberverywell.” “Abouttwoweeksago.” “That’sright.YouwerewithNickhere.” “Iknowyourwife,”continuedGatsby,almostaggressively. “Thatso?” Tomturnedtome. “Youlivenearhere,Nick?” “Nextdoor.” “Thatso?” Mr.Sloanedidn’tenterintotheconversation,butloungedbackhaughtilyinhischairthewomansaidnothingeither—untilunexpectedly,aftertwohighballs,shebecamecordial. “We’llallcomeovertoyournextparty,Mr.Gatsby,”shesuggested.“Whatdoyousay?” “CertainlyI’dbedelightedtohaveyou.” “Bever’nice,”saidMr.Sloane,withoutgratitude.“Well—thinkoughttobestartinghome