第25部分(第1/7 頁)

crazier。　And　if　drinking　didn？t　work；　he　was　going　to　go　out　and　sit　on　the　steps　of　the　Met　and

smoke　all　six　of　the　emergency　joints　in　his　pocket。

Old　habits　die　hard。

He　raised　his　glass　to　take　another　slug　and　felt　a　big　slap　on　his　back；　causing　him　to　nearly

choke。　He　turned　to　see　his　father　standing　right　beside　him。

？There　you　are。？　The　Captain　was　wearing　his　custom…made　English　double…breasted　tuxedo；　a

black　satin　bow　tie　set　at　his　throat；　his　gray　hair　neatly　bed　back　from　his　aristocratic　face。　He

set　his　empty　champagne　glass　down　on　the　bar　next　to　Nate？s。

？Well；　I　hear　someone？s　bailed　you　out？as　usual；？　the　Captain　proclaimed。　？You？re　one　lucky

boy。　Do　you　know　that？？

Nate　ran　his　hands　through　his　hair；　nodding　mechanically。　Leave　it　to　his　dad　to　reduce　him　to　a

drunken　asshole　with　no　dick。

？Though　I　suppose　I　shouldn？t　give　Lady　Luck　all　the　credit　for　your　good　fortune。You？ve　got

one　industrious　girl…friend；？　his　father　remarked。　？You　don？t　deserve　her。？　Nate　blushed　and

looked　at　his　feet。　He　knew　his　dad　was　right？hehadn？t　done　a　goddamn　thing　to　deserve　getting

back　into　Yale？he？d　simply　been　lucky。　Lucky　that　he　had　a　girlfriend　who　didn？t　give　up　until

she　got　her　way。　Lucky　thatshe　had　a　father　who　was　on　the　board　of　trustees。

Blair　sidestepped　one　of　the　Adonises　as　she　walked　over；　her　azure　dress　floating　around　her　like

waves。　Through　the　window　behind　her；　Nate　could　see　the　cars　flying　down　Fifth　Avenue；　some

of　them　slowing　as　they　passed　the　gala　happening　inside。

？Blair；　darling。？　The　Captain　slipped　an　arm　around　Blair？s　tiny　shoulders。　？I　was　just　telling　my

ungrateful　son　here