《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter IV》第15节
I hadn’t been looking at them, but I did now. They were composed of oddly familiar pieces of ivory. “Finest specimens of human molars,” he informed me. “Well!” I inspected them. “That’s a very interesting idea.” “Yeah.” He flipped his sleeves up under his coat. “Yeah, Gatsby’s very careful about women. He would never so much as look at a friend’s wife.” When the subject of this instinctive trust returned to the table and sat down Mr. Wolfshiem drank his coffee with a jerk and got to his feet. “I have enjoyed my lunch,” he said, “and I’m going to run off from you two young men before I outstay my welcome.” “Don’t hurry Meyer,” said Gatsby, without enthusiasm. Mr. Wolfshiem raised his hand in a sort of benediction. “You’re very polite, but I belong to another generation,” he announced solemnly. “You sit here and discuss your sports and your young ladies and your—” He supplied an imaginary noun with another wave of his hand. “As for me, I am fifty years old, and I won’t impose myself on you any longer.” As he shook hands and turned away his tragic nose was trembling. I wondered if I had said anything to offend him.
注释摘要
这一段发生在四十ニ街地下餐厅的午餐桌上，字面上是三件事同时推进：尼克第一次细看沃尔夫山姆的袖扣，沃尔夫山姆突兀地称赞盖茨比不碰朋友之妻，紧接着盖茨比归席、沃尔夫山姆匆匆告辞。菲茨杰拉德把这三件事压在同一口气里，让读者和尼克一起承受一种喘不过气的别扭。 先看袖扣。尼克自己承认之前根本没注意，是沃尔夫山姆主动提示他才低头去看——“I hadn’t been l…