Nick describes how Gatsby's house always has parties. During the day, people are swimming and boating, and on the weekends, Gatsby's chauffeurs drive people in from the city for parties at his house that last all day and all night. He describes all the lights around the garden, the many food caterers, and the orchestra.
Actually, the books are absolutely real!
An employee of Gatsby walks over to Nick's house and gives him a formal invitation to the party that evening. Nick says that he was one of few people at the party who were actually invited. Most people did not get invited; they just showed up.
I thought you knew, old sport. I’m afraid I’m not a very good host.
This is an unusual party for me. I haven’t even seen the host. I live next door.
After standing alone for a while, Nick sees Jordan and walks over to greet her. Two ladies, who seem to know Jordan, walk up to them. They all start talking together. The two ladies start saying some rumors that they heard about Gatsby.
You don’t understand. I wasn’t driving. There’s another man in the car.
Nick and Jordan go and try to find Gatsby. They enter the library and meet Owl Eyes, a middle-aged man with giant glasses. He says that he has been drunk for a week, which makes what he is saying not make sense.
Nick and Jordan are seated at a table with a man and a young woman. The man recognizes Nick from the war. The man invites Nick to try out his new water plane the next morning, and Nick agrees. He tells the man how this is such a strange party, and that he hasn't even met the host yet. Then, the man introduces himself and says that he is Gatsby, the host.
Nick notices a car crashed in the ditch that is holding up the traffic leaving the party. It appears that Owl Eyes, who he met in the library earlier that night, was in the car that crashed. Then, the driver of the car steps out and is so drunk that he has no idea what happened.