Chapter3THEREwasmusicfrommyneighbor'shousethroughthesummernights.Inhisbluegardensmenandgirlscameandwentlikemothsamongthewhisperingsandthechampagneandthestars.AthightideintheafternoonIwatchedhisguestsdivingfromthetowerofhisraft,ortakingthesunonthehotsandofhisbeachwhilehistwomotor−boatsslitthewatersoftheSound,drawingaquaplanesovercataractsoffoam.Onweek−endshisRolls−Roycebecameanomnibus,bearingpartiestoandfromthecitybetweennineinthemorningandlongpastmidnight,whilehisstationwagonscamperedlikeabriskyellowbugtomeetalltrains.AndonMondayseightservants,includinganextragardener,toiledalldaywithmopsandscrubbing−brushesandhammersandgarden−shears,repairingtheravagesofthenightbefore.EveryFridayfivecratesoforangesandlemonsarrivedfromafruitierinNewYorkeveryMondaythesesameorangesandlemonslefthisbackdoorinapyramidofpulplesshalves.Therewasamachineinthekitchenwhichcouldextractthejuiceoftwohundredorangesinhalfanhourifalittlebuttonwaspressedtwohundredtimesbyabutler'sthumb.AtleastonceafortnightacorpsofcatererscamedownwithseveralhundredfeetofcanvasandenoughcoloredlightstomakeaChristmastreeofGatsby'senormousgarden.Onbuffettables,garnishedwithglisteninghors−d'oeuvre,spicedbakedhamscrowdedagainstsaladsofharlequindesignsandpastrypigsandturkeysbewitchedtoadarkgold.Inthemainhallabarwitharealbrassrailwassetup,andstockedwithginsandliquorsandwithcordialssolongforgottenthatmostofhisfemaleguestsweretooyoungtoknowonefromanother.总是有悠扬的音乐在夏夜的晚上从我隔壁传出。在他蔚蓝的花园中，如飞蛾般蜂拥来往的男孩女孩在觥筹交错间穿梭。在下午人流涌动的高峰期，我甚至目睹过他的宾客从他的木筏塔上跳入水中潜水，或是躺在他的沙滩的热沙上晒太阳，马达船在水上隆隆作响，拖着滑水板激起阵阵浪花。当一周要结束时，他的劳斯莱斯就变成了一辆公共汽车，从早上九点到深更半夜，承载接送着城市中四面八方而来欢庆的人，同时他的旅行车也像一只轻捷的黄硬壳虫那样去火车站接所有的班车。每个星期一，八个仆人，包括一个临时园丁，用许多拖把、板刷、榔头、修技剪辛苦劳作一整天来收拾前一晚的残局。每逢周五，就会有五箱新鲜的橙子和柠檬从纽约的水果商那运往他的城堡，然后周一就会有堆成小山般的果皮从后门运出。在他家的后厨，有一台榨汁机，只要男管家不停用大拇指按两百多下，可以在半小时内榨好两百多个橙子。每两周至会有一个晚上，成批负责举办酒席的人带着几百英尺帆布和足够多的彩灯将盖茨比巨大的花园装扮得像一颗华丽的圣诞树。餐会的桌子上，摆满了各式各样迷人的小菜，可口的火腿周围环绕着五颜六色的沙拉，烹制金黄酥脆的火鸡和乳猪。在主会厅中，摆设有一个装置着黄铜横杆的酒吧，里面储藏着杜松子和烈性酒，还有各种年代久远的甘露酒，很多年轻的女宾客都无法将它们分辨清楚。Byseveno'clocktheorchestrahasarrived,nothinfive−pieceaffair,butawholepitifulofoboesandtrombonesandsaxophonesandviolsandcornetsandpiccolos,andlowandhighdrums.Thelastswimmershavecomeinfromthebeachnowandaredressingup−stairs;thecarsfromNewYorkareparkedfivedeepinthedrive,andalreadythehallsandsalonsandverandasaregaudywithprimarycolors,andhairshorninstrangenewways,andshawlsbeyondthedreamsofCastile.Thebarisinfullswing,andfloatingroundsofcocktailspermeatethegardenoutside,untiltheairisalivewithchatterandlaughter,andcasualinnuendoandintroductionsforgottenonthespot,andenthusiasticmeetingsbetweenwomenwhoneverkneweachother'snames.Thelightsgrowbrighterastheearthlurchesawayfromthesun,andnowtheorchestraisplayingyellowcocktailmusic,andtheoperaofvoicespitchesakeyhigher.Laughteriseasierminutebyminute,spilledwithprodigality,tippedo...
