Great Gatsby Help?

Question

What Does this mean: The telephone rang inside, startlingly, and as Daisy shook her head decisively at Tom the subject of the stables, in fact all subjects, vanished into air. Among the broken fragments of the last five minutes at table I remember the candles being lit again, pointlessly, and I was conscious of wanting to look squarely at every one, and yet to avoid all eyes. I couldn't guess what Daisy and Tom were thinking, but I doubt if even Miss Baker, who seemed to have mastered a certain hardy scepticism, was able utterly to put this fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency out of mind. To a certain temperament the situation might have seemed intriguing--my own instinct was to telephone immediately for the police.

I don't understand the entire Fifth guest's shrill...is it refering to the mistress or the baby or the butler? andthe entire calling the police part? I don't understand the last sentence. Please explain. Thanks

Answer 1

The "fifth guest" referred to in the telephone itself.

As for "calling the police":

"Miss Baker and I exchanged a short glance consciously devoid of meaning. I was about to speak when she sat up alertly and said "Sh!" in a warning voice. A subdued impassioned murmur was audible in the room beyond and Miss Baker leaned forward, unashamed, trying to hear. The murmur trembled on the verge of coherence, sank down, mounted excitedly and then ceased altogether.

"This Mr. Gatsby you spoke of is my neighbor --" I said.

"Don't talk. I want to hear what happens."

"Is something happening?" I inquired innocently.

"You mean to say you don't know?" said Miss Baker, honestly surprised. "I thought everybody knew."

"I don't."

"Why --" she said hesitantly, "Tom's got some woman in New York."

"Got some woman?" I repeated blankly.

Miss Baker nodded.

"She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner-time. Don't you think?"

This exchange occurs in Chapter One, and the narrator, Nick, is being facetious. The caller is Tom's mistress and Tom is married to Daisy, Nick's cousin. Nick's not really serious about "calling the police." It's just a very awkward and embarrassing situation for him to be in.

Answer 2

The " fifth guest"an uninvited guest is the telephone. Daisy suspects that the call is from Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson. That's why the conversation at the table stops. it's the tension amongst the three people who are aware of the situation and poor Nick can only sense that there may be trouble ahead. he is not " intrigued" by it but rather fears the consequences, hence his instinct is to need back up, the police.