《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter IX》第3节
“Will you ring again?” “I’ve rung three times.” “It’s very important.” “Sorry. I’m afraid no one’s there.” I went back to the drawing-room and thought for an instant that they were chance visitors, all these official people who suddenly filled it. But, though they drew back the sheet and looked at Gatsby with shocked eyes, his protest continued in my brain: “Look here, old sport, you’ve got to get somebody for me. You’ve got to try hard. I can’t go through this alone.” Someone started to ask me questions, but I broke away and going upstairs looked hastily through the unlocked parts of his desk—he’d never told me definitely that his parents were dead. But there was nothing—only the picture of Dan Cody, a token of forgotten violence, staring down from the wall. Next morning I sent the butler to New York with a letter to Wolfshiem, which asked for information and urged him to come out on the next train. That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it. I was sure he’d start when he saw the newspapers, just as I was sure there’d be a wire from Daisy before noon—but neither a wire nor Mr. Wolfshiem arrived; no one arrived except more police and photographers and newspaper men. When the butler brought back Wolfshiem’s answer I began to have a feeling of defiance, of scornful solidarity between Gatsby and me against them all.
注释摘要
电话接线员那一句"I'm afraid no one's there"里，这个彬彬有礼的"afraid"用得太准了。不是"恐怕没人在"——是"恐怕我不打算再替你试了"。尼克已经被逼到一个活人都不接电话的境地，而此刻客厅里全是陌生人，警察、摄影师、记者，掀开被单看盖茨比的脸，像看一件展品。他们是被案件吸引来的，没有一个是为人而来的。 尼克脑子里响起盖茨比的那…