There are several places in the text that Gatsby received
annoying yet revealing phone calls.
Once in chapter 3, when
Nick was about to get to meet and know Gatsby, he was called away to the phone. In
Gatsby's absence, rumors being revealing this possible criminal activity, but Nick
doesn't know if it is true, and this is how he acts as narrator: he
reserves judgment.
In chapter 5, Daisy,
Gatsby, and Nick were in Gatsby's room when he received a call that he quickly avoided,
obviously because he was entertaining Daisy.
In chapter
6,
Gatsby had
been called to the phone, and I'd enjoyed these same people only two weeks before. But
what had amused me then turned septic on the air
now.
Nick obviously
felt irritated that Gatsby's criminal activity took him
away again.
In chapter 9, actual evidence of criminal
activity comes loud and clear over the wire to Nick's ear in these words from a man
named Slagle:
"Young Parke's in trouble," he said rapidly.
"They picked him up when he handed the bonds over the counter. They got a circular from
New York giving 'em the numbers just five minutes before. What d'you know about that,
hey? You never can tell in these hick
towns-"
Obviously this is
some type of counterfeit trading Gatbsy was involved in. Nick responds with a direct
proclamation of Gatsby's death. The man is shocked and hangs up. Direct discussion has
never really been a strong suit of Nick's. But, it came out in a moment of frustration
and disappointment.
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