Hagen sat behind the desk and made notes. The Don heaved a sigh and asked,
"Is there anything else?"
2 "Sollozzo can't be put off any more. You'll have to see him this week." Hagen
Held his pen over the calendar.
3 The Don shrugged. "Now that the wedding is over, whenever you like."
This answer told Hagen two things. Most important, that the answer to Virgil
Sollozzo would be no. The second, that Don Corleone, since he would not give
The answer before his daughter's wedding, expected his no to cause trouble.
5 Hagen said cautiously, "Shall I tell Clemenza to have some men come live in
the house?"
6 The Don said impatiently, "For what? I didn't answer before the wedding
Because on an important day like that there should be no cloud, not even in the
Distance. Also I wanted to know beforehand what he wanted to talk about. We
know now. What he will propose is an infamita."
7 Hagen asked, "Then you will refuse?" When the Don nodded, Hagen said, "I
75
think we should all discuss it – the whole Family – before you give your answer."
8 The Don smiled. "You think so? Good, we will discuss it. When you come back
From California. I want you to fly there tomorrow and settle this business for
Johnny. See that movie pezzonovante. Tell Sollozzo I will see him when you get
back from California. Is there anything else?"
9 Hagen said formally, "The hospital called. Consigliori Abbandando is dying, he
won't last out the night. His family was told to come and wait."
10 Hagen had filled the Consigliori’s post for the past year, ever since the cancer
Had imprisoned Genco Abbandando in his hospital bed. Now he waited to hear
Don Corleone say the post was his permanently. The odds were against it. So
High a position was traditionally given only to a man descended from two Italian
Parents. There had already been trouble about his temporary performance of the
Duties. Also, he was only thirty-five, not old enough, supposedly, to have
acquired the necessary experience and cunning for a successful Consigliori.
11 But the Don gave him no encouragement. He asked, "When does my
daughter leave with her bridegroom?"
12 Hagen looked at his wristwatch. "In a few minutes they'll cut the cake and
|
|
then a half hour after that." That reminded him of something else. "Your new son-
in-law. Do we give him something important, inside the Family?"
13 He was surprised at the vehemence of the Don's answer. "Never." The Don hit
the desk with the flat of his hand. "Never. Give him something to earn his living, a
Good living. But never let him know the Family's business. Tell the others, Sonny,
Fredo, Clemenza."
14 The Don paused. "Instruct my sons, all three of them, that they will
Accompany me to the hospital to see poor Genco. I want them to pay their last
Respects. Tell Freddie to drive the big car and ask Johnny if he will come with us,
as a special favor to me." He saw Hagen look at him questioningly. "I want you to
Go to California tonight. You won't have time to go see Genco. But don't leave
until I come back from the hospital and speak with you. Understood?"
15 "Understood," Hagen said. "What time should Fred have the car waiting?"
16 "When the guests have left," Don Corleone said. "Genco will wait for me."
17 "The Senator called," Hagen said. "Apologizing for not coming personally but
That you would understand. He probably means those two FBI men across the
Street taking down license numbers. But he sent his gift over by special
messenger."
76
The Don nodded. He did not think it necessary to mention that he himself had
warned the Senator not to come. "Did he send a nice present?"
Hagen made a face of impressed approval that was very strangely Italian on
his German-Irish features. "Antique silver, very valuable. The kids can sell it for a
Grand at least. The Senator spent a lot of time getting exactly the right thing. For
those kind of people that's more important than how much it costs."
|
|
Don Corleone did not hide his pleasure that so great a man as the Senator
Дата добавления: 2018-10-26; просмотров: 150; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!