Page 38 - The Great Gatsby

Gatsby's pas/: 29
28

CHAPTER 4 'I see.'
'My family left me a good deal of money, so I lived like a
GATSBY'S P �T king in ali the capitals of Europe, collecting jewels, riding
horses, paiming a little, and trying to forget something very sad
A t nine o'clock onc morning in July, Gatsby's beautiful that had happcned to me long ago.'
.r\. car arrived at my <loor. It was the first mne he had called I managed not to laugh in bis face. lt was an old, old story,
on me, although I bad gone to two of his parties, been out in heard many times befare - not even the words were new.
his motorboat and, at bis urgent invitation, used his prívate beach. 'Tben came che war, old sport. I was glad to go and fight,
'Good morning, old sport. You're having lunch with me and I tried very hard to die, but my life seemed to be protected
today and I thought we'd drive up to town together.' He saw in some magical way. I was sent to France as an army officer,
me looking admiringly at his car. 'It's pretty, isn't it, old sport? and my men and I held an important position fo r two days and
Haven't you seen it befare?' two nigbts against three German divisions. I was made a major,
l'd seen it. Everybody had seen it. There was no other car and received medals from ali the countries on our side - even
like ir in West Egg. Long and luxurious, it was a rich yellowisb Montenegro, little Montenegro, clown on the Adriatic Sea!'
color. I got in and we started on the road to New York. I srared at him admiringly, wondering what he could possibly
I had talked with him severa\ times in the past month and invent to tell me ncxt. But he took a piece of metal from his
faund, to my disappointment, that he did not have much to say. pocket and put ir in my hand.
So l was not cxpecting what happened next. 'That's the meda! from Montenegro.'
'Look here, old sport,' he said suddenly as we lcft West Egg To my great surprise, the thing looked real. On rhe back was
village. 'What's your opinion of me?' written, To Major ]ay Gatsby, for Extraordinary Bravery.
A little surprised, l gave the usual polite reply. 'Here's anothcr thing I always carry. A memory of Oxford
'I'm going to tell you something about my life,' he said. 'T days.' He showed me a photograph of six young men in the
don't want you to get the wrong idea from all these storics you doorway of an ancient college; one of them was Gatsby.
hear. I'll tell you God's truth. l am the son of sorne wealthy So it was ali true. I believed in him ar last.
people in the Middlc West - ali dead now. 1 was brought up in 'I'm going to make a big request of you roday,' he went on.
America, but educated at Oxfard, like all my family befare me.' 'That's why I thought you ought to know something about me.
He looked at me sideways, and I knew why Jordan had You'll hear about ir this afternoon.'
believed he was lying. He swallowed the words 'educated at 'Ar lunch?'
Oxfard'. And with chis doubt, I could not believe any of it. 'No, chis afternoon. I happened ro find out that you're taking
'What part of che Middle West?' I asked innocently. Miss Baker to tea. She has kindly agreed to speak to you about
'San Francisco.' this matter.'