《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter IV》第14节
There was the smile again, but this time I held out against it. “I don’t like mysteries,” I answered, “and I don’t understand why you won’t come out frankly and tell me what you want. Why has it all got to come through Miss Baker?” “Oh, it’s nothing underhand,” he assured me. “Miss Baker’s a great sportswoman, you know, and she’d never do anything that wasn’t all right.” Suddenly he looked at his watch, jumped up, and hurried from the room, leaving me with Mr. Wolfshiem at the table. “He has to telephone,” said Mr. Wolfshiem, following him with his eyes. “Fine fellow, isn’t he? Handsome to look at and a perfect gentleman.” “Yes.” “He’s an Oggsford man.” “Oh!” “He went to Oggsford College in England. You know Oggsford College?” “I’ve heard of it.” “It’s one of the most famous colleges in the world.” “Have you known Gatsby for a long time?” I inquired. “Several years,” he answered in a gratified way. “I made the pleasure of his acquaintance just after the war. But I knew I had discovered a man of fine breeding after I talked with him an hour. I said to myself: ‘There’s the kind of man you’d like to take home and introduce to your mother and sister.’ ” He paused. “I see you’re looking at my cuff buttons.”
注释摘要
这一段发生在四十二街地下餐厅的午餐桌上。盖茨比刚刚离开，尼克和沃尔夫山姆面对面坐着，场面忽然变得很微妙。先看字面上发生的事：尼克直接对盖茨比表达了不满，说自己不喜欢谜团，不明白为什么不能直说，而非要通过乔丹·贝克传话。盖茨比安抚他说这事没什么见不得人的，夸贝克小姐是个“了不起的运动员”，绝不会做不正当的事，然后突然看表、跳起来匆忙离场，把尼克留给了沃尔夫山…