《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter VII》第12节
“About Gatsby.” “About Gatsby! No, I haven’t. I said I’d been making a small investigation of his past.” “And you found he was an Oxford man,” said Jordan helpfully. “An Oxford man!” He was incredulous. “Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit.” “Nevertheless he’s an Oxford man.” “Oxford, New Mexico,” snorted Tom contemptuously, “or something like that.” “Listen, Tom. If you’re such a snob, why did you invite him to lunch?” demanded Jordan crossly. “Daisy invited him; she knew him before we were married—God knows where!” We were all irritable now with the fading ale, and aware of it we drove for a while in silence. Then as Doctor T. J. Eckleburg’s faded eyes came into sight down the road, I remembered Gatsby’s caution about gasoline. “We’ve got enough to get us to town,” said Tom. “But there’s a garage right here,” objected Jordan. “I don’t want to get stalled in this baking heat.” Tom threw on both brakes impatiently, and we slid to an abrupt dusty stop under Wilson’s sign. After a moment the proprietor emerged from the interior of his establishment and gazed hollow-eyed at the car. “Let’s have some gas!” cried Tom roughly. “What do you think we stopped for—to admire the view?”
注释摘要
这一段车厢里的交锋，是汤姆·布坎南对盖茨比那套绅士面具发动的一场短兵相接。乔丹以她一贯的轻盈与刻毒，用一种故意天真的声调提起“牛津男人”——她知道这是盖茨比的软肋，也深知汤姆骨子里的势利会因此炸毛。而汤姆果然上钩。他那句“Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit”是本段的钻石切口，清脆、残忍，且折射出整个阶级偏见的光谱。“…