《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter IV》第9节
“At lunch?” “No, this afternoon. I happened to find out that you’re taking Miss Baker to tea.” “Do you mean you’re in love with Miss Baker?” “No, old sport, I’m not. But Miss Baker has kindly consented to speak to you about this matter.” I hadn’t the faintest idea what “this matter” was, but I was more annoyed than interested. I hadn’t asked Jordan to tea in order to discuss Mr. Jay Gatsby. I was sure the request would be something utterly fantastic, and for a moment I was sorry I’d ever set foot upon his overpopulated lawn. He wouldn’t say another word. His correctness grew on him as we neared the city. We passed Port Roosevelt, where there was a glimpse of red-belted oceangoing ships, and sped along a cobbled slum lined with the dark, undeserted saloons of the faded-gilt nineteen-hundreds. Then the valley of ashes opened out on both sides of us, and I had a glimpse of Mrs. Wilson straining at the garage pump with panting vitality as we went by. With fenders spread like wings we scattered light through half Astoria—only half, for as we twisted among the pillars of the elevated I heard the familiar “jug-jug-spat!” of a motorcycle, and a frantic policeman rode alongside.
注释摘要
这段对话发生在那次让人不安的汽车旅程的后半段。尼克刚刚听完了盖茨比那段关于身世的自述——旧金山长大的中西部富家子弟、牛津毕业生、战争英雄、在巴黎威尼斯罗马收集红宝石试图忘记伤心事的年轻富豪。现在盖茨比把话锋一转，说自己今天要提出一个重大的请求，但他又不肯直接说是什么，只告诉尼克他已经得知尼克下午约了乔丹·贝克喝茶。尼克问他是否爱慕贝克小姐，盖茨比否认了，说…