27

"The orchestra left half an hour ago."In spite of the wives'agreement that such malevolence was beyondcredibility,the dispute ended in a short struggle.and both wives were lifted.kicking.into the night.

As I waited for my hat in the hall the door of the library opened and Jordan Baker and Gatsby came outtogether.He was saying some last word to her.but the eageress in his manner tightened abruptly intoformality as several people approached him to say good-by.

Jordan's party were calling impatiently to her from the porch,but she lingered for a moment to shake hands.

"I've just heard the most amazing thing."she whispered.

"How long were we in there?"

"Why,about an hour.""It wassimply amazing."she repeated abstractedly.

"But I swore I wouldn't tell it and here I am tantalizing you."She yawned gracefully in my face:"Pleasecome and see me...Phone book.

..Under the name of Mrs.Sigourney Howard.

..My aunt...."she was hurrying off as she talkedher brown hand waved a jaunty salute as she meltedinto her party at the door.

Rather ashamed that on my first appearance I had stayed so late,I joined the last of Gatsby's guests,whowere clustered around him.I wanted to explain that I'd hunted for him early in the evening and to apologizefor not having known him in the garden.

"Don't mention it."he enjoined me eagerly.

"Don't give it another thought,old sport."The familiar expression held no more familiarity than the handwhich reassuringly brushed my shoulder.

"And don't forget we're going up in the hydroplane to-morrow morning.at nine o'clock."Then the butler,behind his shoulder:"Philadelphia wants you on the 'phone.sir."

"All right,in a minute.Tell them I'll be right there....good night."

"Good night."

"Good night."He smiledand suddenly there seemed to be a pleasant significance in having been among thelast to go,as if he had desired it all the time.

"Good night,old sport....good night."But as I walked down the steps I saw that the evening was not quiteover.Fifty feet from the door a dozen headlights illuminated a bizarre and tumultuous scene.In the ditchbeside the road,right side up,but violently shorn of one wheel.rested a new coupe which had left Gatsby'sdrive not two minutes before.The sharp jut of a wall accounted for the detachment of the wheel,which wasnow getting considerable attention from half a dozen curious chauffeurs.However,as they had left their carsblocking the road,a harsh,discordant din from those in the rear had been audible for some time.and added tothe already violent confusion of the scene.