IV
關燈
小
中
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tmascardeveryyear.”
Overthegreatbridge,withthesunlightthroughthegirdersmakingaconstantflickeruponthemovingcars,withthecityrisingupacrosstheriverinwhiteheapsandsugarlumpsallbuiltwithawishoutofnonolfactorymoney.ThecityseenfromtheQueensboroBridgeisalwaysthecityseenforthefirsttime,initsfirstwildpromiseofallthemysteryandthebeautyintheworld.
Adeadmanpassedusinahearseheapedwithblooms,followedbytwocarriageswithdrawnblinds,andbymorecheerfulcarriagesforfriends.ThefriendslookedoutatuswiththetragiceyesandshortupperlipsofsoutheasternEurope,andIwasgladthatthesightofGatsby’ssplendidcarwasincludedintheirsombreholiday.AswecrossedBlackwell’sIslandalimousinepassedus,drivenbyawhitechauffeur,inwhichsatthreemodishnegroes,twobucksandagirl.Ilaughedaloudastheyolksoftheireyeballsrolledtowardusinhaughtyrivalry.
“Anythingcanhappennowthatwe’veslidoverthisbridge,”Ithought“anythingatall…”
EvenGatsbycouldhappen,withoutanyparticularwonder.
Roaringnoon.Inawell-fannedForty-secondStreetcellarImetGatsbyforlunch.Blinkingawaythebrightnessofthestreetoutside,myeyespickedhimoutobscurelyintheanteroom,talkingtoanotherman.
“Mr.Carraway,thisismyfriendMr.Wolfshiem.”
Asmall,flat-nosedJewraisedhislargeheadandregardedmewithtwofinegrowthsofhairwhichluxuriatedineithernostril.AfteramomentIdiscoveredhistinyeyesinthehalf-darkness.
“—SoItookonelookathim,”saidMr.Wolfshiem,shakingmyhandearnestly,“andwhatdoyouthinkIdid?”
“What?”Iinquiredpolitely.
Butevidentlyhewasnotaddressingme,forhedroppedmyhandandcoveredGatsbywithhisexpressivenose.
“IhandedthemoneytoKatspaughandIsaid:‘Allright,Katspaugh,don’tpayhimapennytillheshutshismouth.’Heshutitthenandthere.”
Gatsbytookanarmofeachofusandmovedforwardintotherestaurant,whereuponMr.Wolfshiemswallowedanewsentencehewasstartingandlapsedintoasomnambulatoryabstraction.
“Highballs?”askedtheheadwaiter.
“Thisisanicerestauranthere,”saidMr.Wolfshiem,lookingatthepresbyteriannymphsontheceiling.“ButIlikeacrossthestreetbetter!”
“Yes,highballs,”agreedGatsby,andthentoMr.Wolfshiem:“It’stoohotoverthere.”
“Hotandsmall—yes,”saidMr.Wolfshiem,“butfullofmemories.”
“Whatplaceisthat?”Iasked.
“TheoldMetropole.”
“TheoldMetropole,”broodedMr.Wolfshiemgloomily.“Filledwithfacesdeadandgone.Filledwithfriendsgonenowforever.Ican’tforgetsolongasIlivethenighttheyshotRosyRosenthalthere.Itwassixofusatthetable,andRosyhadeatanddrunkalotallevening.Whenitwasalmostmorningthewaitercameuptohimwithafunnylookandsayssomebodywantstospeaktohimoutside.‘Allright,’saysRosy,andbeginstogetup,andIpulledhimdowninhischair.
“?‘Letthebastardscomeinhereiftheywantyou,Rosy,butdon’tyou,sohelpme,moveoutsidethisroom.’
“Itwasfouro’clockinthemorningthen,andifwe’dofraisedtheblindswe’dofseendaylight.”
“Didhego?”Iaskedinnocently.
“Surehewent.”Mr.Wolfshiem’snoseflashedatmeindignantly.“Heturnedaroundinthedoorandsays:‘Don’tletthatwaitertakeawaymycoffee!’Thenhewentoutonthesidewalk,andtheyshothimthreetimesinhisfullbellyanddroveaway.”
“Fourofthemwereelectrocuted,”Isaid,remembering.
“Five,withBecker.”Hisnostrilsturnedtomeinaninterestedway.“Iunderstandyou’relookingforabusinessgonnegtion.”
Thejuxtapositionofthesetworemarkswasstartling.Gatsbyansweredforme:
“Oh,no,”heexclaimed,“thisisn’ttheman.”
“No?”Mr.Wolfshiemseemeddisappointed.
“Thisisjustafriend.Itoldyouwe’dtalkaboutthatsomeothertime.”
“Ibegyourpardon,”saidMr.Wolfshiem,“Ihadawrongman.”
Asucculenthasharrived,andMr.Wolfshiem,forgettingthemoresentimentalatmosphereoftheoldMetropole,begantoeatwithferociousdelicacy.Hiseyes,meanwhile,rovedveryslowlyallaroundtheroom—hecompletedthearcbyturningtoinspectthepeopledirectlybehind.Ithinkthat,exceptformypresence,hewouldhavetakenoneshortglancebeneathourowntable.
“Lookhere,oldsport,”saidGatsby,leaningtowardme,“I’mafraidImadeyoualittleangrythismorninginthecar.”
Therewasthesmileagain,butthistimeIheldoutagainstit.
“Idon’tlikemysteries,”Ianswered,“andIdon’tunderstandwhyyouwon’tcomeoutfranklyandtellmewhatyouwant.WhyhasitallgottocomethroughMissBaker?”
“Oh,it’snothingunderhand,”heassuredme.“MissBaker’sagreatsportswoman,youknow,andshe’dneverdoanythingthatwasn’tallright.”
Suddenlyhelookedathiswatch,jumpedup,andhurriedfromtheroom,leavingmewithMr.Wolfshiematthetable.
“Hehastotelephone,”saidMr.Wolfshiem,followinghimwithhiseyes.“Finefellow,isn’the?Handsometolookatandaperfectgentleman.”
“Yes.”
“He’sanOggsfordman.”
“Oh!”
“HewenttoOggsfordCollegeinEngland.YouknowOggsfordCollege?”
“I’veheardofit.”
“It’soneofthemostfamouscollegesintheworld.”
“HaveyouknownGatsbyforalongtime?”Iinquired.
“Severalyears,”heansweredinagratifiedway.“Imadethepleasureofhisacquaintancejustafterthewar.ButIknewIhaddiscoveredamanoffinebreedingafterItalkedwithhimanhour.Isaidtomyself:‘There’sthekindofmanyou’dliketotakehomeandintroducetoyourmotherandsister.’?”Hepaused.“Iseeyou’relookingatmycuffbuttons.”
Ihadn’tbeenlookingatthem,butIdidnow.Theywerecomposedofoddlyfamiliarpiecesofivory.
“Finestspecimensofhumanmolars,”heinformedme.
“Well!”Iinspectedthem.“That’saveryinterestingidea.”
“Yeah.”Heflippedhissleevesupunderh
