Page 76 - The Great Gatsby

66 The Great Gatsby A hot day in town 67

'l'm not?' Tom opened his eyes wide and laughed. He could fought on as the afternoon slippecl away, trying unhappily to
afford to control himsclf now. 'Why's that'' reach that lost voice across the room.
'Daisy's leaving you.' The voice begged again to go.
'She's not leaving me! Certainly not for a damned criminal 'Please, Tom! I can't stand chis any more.'
who'd have to sreal the ring he put on her finger!' Her frightenecl eyes tole! that whatever intentions, whatever
'I won't stand this!' cried Daisy. 'Oh, please let's get out!' cleterminatio11 she had had, were gone forever.
'Who are you, anyway?' Tom burst out. 'You're friendly with 'You two start on home, Daisy,' said Tom. 'In Mr Gatsby's
Meyer Wolfshiem, I know that rnuch.' He turned to us and car.' He aclcled scornfully, 'Go on. He won't annoy you. I think
spoke rapidl y. 'I found out that he and Wolfshiem bought up he realizes that his arrogant little attempt at an affair is over.'
a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago, and sold They were gone, without a word. After a moment or two,
grain alcohol to anyone who asked for it - against the law, of we left too. Jorclan and I got into che coupé with Tom, and we
course. 1 thought he was a bootlegger, and I wasn't far wrong.' started for Long Island. Tom was very pleased with himself,
'What about it?' said Gatsby politely. 'I gucss your friend talking ancl laughing ali the way, but Jordan and I were not
Walter Chase wasn't too proud to come in 011 it.' listening. Human sympathy has its limits, and we were happy
'And you !et him go to jail for ir, didn't you' God! You to !et their arguments disappear into the distance, like the
ought to hear what Walter says about you!' lights of the city. 1 hacl just rememberecl it was my thirtieth
'He didn't have a cent when he carne to us. He was very glad birthday. Thirty - the promise of years of loncliness ahead of
to pick up some money, old sport.' me, a thinning list of single men to know, thinning enthusiasm,
'Don't you call me "old sport"!' cricd Tom. 'That drug-store thi1111ing hair. But there was Jordan beside me, who, u11like
business was just small change. I know you'vc got something Daisy, was too wise to carry well-forgotten drearns from age to
011 now that Walter's afraid to tell me about.' age. As we passecl over the clark bridge, her pale face fell lazily
I lookecl ar Daisy, who was sraring, terrifiecl, at Gatsby ancl against my shoulder, a11d with her warm hand in mine, thc fcar
her husband. Then I turned back to Gatsby, and was shocked of being thirty died away.
by his expression. Thc worcls of the girl at his party carne back So we drove on towarcl death through the cooling half-light.
to me: You look at him sometimes when he thinks nobody's looking
at him. l'm sure he's lúlled a man. For a moment the look on The young Greek, Michaelis, who ownecl the restaurant besicle
his face could be described in just that fantastic way. the ash-heaps, was the main witness at the inquest. At five in
lt passed, and he bcgan to talk excitedly to Daisy, trying the afternoon he had walkecl over to the garage, and found
to persuade her that rhe accusatio11s agai11st him were not George Wilson sick in his office - really sick, pale as his own
true. But with every word of his, she was drawi11g further and pale hair and shaking ali over. Michaelis advised him to go
further into hcrself, so he stoppcd that, ancl only che dead dream to bed, but Wilson refused, saying he didn't want to lose any