《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter VI》第11节
But evidently the sound of it pleased Gatsby for Tom remained “the polo player” for the rest of the evening. “I’ve never met so many celebrities,” Daisy exclaimed. “I liked that man—what was his name?—with the sort of blue nose.” Gatsby identified him, adding that he was a small producer. “Well, I liked him anyhow.” “I’d a little rather not be the polo player,” said Tom pleasantly, “I’d rather look at all these famous people in—in oblivion.” Daisy and Gatsby danced. I remember being surprised by his graceful, conservative foxtrot—I had never seen him dance before. Then they sauntered over to my house and sat on the steps for half an hour, while at her request I remained watchfully in the garden. “In case there’s a fire or a flood,” she explained, “or any act of God.” Tom appeared from his oblivion as we were sitting down to supper together. “Do you mind if I eat with some people over here?” he said. “A fellow’s getting off some funny stuff.” “Go ahead,” answered Daisy genially, “and if you want to take down any addresses here’s my little gold pencil.” … She looked around after a moment and told me the girl was “common but pretty,” and I knew that except for the half-hour she’d been alone with Gatsby she wasn’t having a good time.
注释摘要
这一小段文字表面上只是派对上的一段社交寒暄，但菲茨杰拉德用几个极其克制的细节，把阶级、欲望与幻灭全部压缩进去了。 我们先看字面上发生了什么。盖茨比在介绍汤姆·布坎南时，犹豫了一下之后加了一句“那位马球手”。汤姆立刻否认——“哦不，不是我”——但盖茨比显然爱上了这个标签，整晚都以“马球手”称呼汤姆。接着黛西惊叹自己从未见过这么多名人，说自己喜欢一个“蓝鼻子的…