《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter V》第3节
“Trying to.” “Well, this would interest you. It wouldn’t take up much of your time and you might pick up a nice bit of money. It happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing.” I realize now that under different circumstances that conversation might have been one of the crises of my life. But, because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service to be rendered, I had no choice except to cut him off there. “I’ve got my hands full,” I said. “I’m much obliged but I couldn’t take on any more work.” “You wouldn’t have to do any business with Wolfshiem.” Evidently he thought that I was shying away from the “gonnegtion” mentioned at lunch, but I assured him he was wrong. He waited a moment longer, hoping I’d begin a conversation, but I was too absorbed to be responsive, so he went unwillingly home. The evening had made me lightheaded and happy; I think I walked into a deep sleep as I entered my front door. So I don’t know whether or not Gatsby went to Coney Island, or for how many hours he “glanced into rooms” while his house blazed gaudily on. I called up Daisy from the office next morning, and invited her to come to tea.
注释摘要
尼克说他在尝试卖债券，语调带着自嘲。盖茨比立刻抓住这个话头，抛出一个赚钱的机会，说他可以给尼克一个不费时间、收益不错的副业，而且这是个“相当机密的事”。这里“a rather confidential sort of thing”这个短语，措辞闪烁其词，暗示这笔买卖不便公开。尼克作为叙述者此时插入了一句非常重要的评判：他如今才意识到，换个情形那场对话也许会…