Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once. A thrill passed over all of us. The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly. I don't think it's so much THAT, argued Lucille sceptically; it's more that he was a German spy during the war

‘Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once.’
A thrill passed over all of us. The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly.
‘I don’t think it’s so much THAT,’ argued Lucille sceptically; ‘it’s more that he was a German spy during the war.’
One of the men nodded in confirmation.
‘I heard that from a man who knew all about him, grew up with him in Germany,’ he assured us positively.
‘Oh, no,’ said the first girl, ‘it couldn’t be that, because he was in the American army during the war.’ As our credulity switched back to her she leaned forward with enthusiasm. ‘You look at him sometimes when he thinks nobody’s looking at him. I’ll bet he killed a man.’

– F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby. Chapter 3. Will the real Jay Gatsby please stand up? Gatsby is a mystery man, the master illusionist, and no one really knows who he is or how he got his money. At his lavish all-night parties his illusion is further fed by rumors and elaborate stories his guests tell about him.

The Great Gatsby Quotes