Крестный отец

           DonCorleoneknewwhotheywere.Hisclosestandmostintimatefriendshadbeenadvisedtoattendtheweddinginautomobilesnottheirown.Andthoughhedisapprovedofhisson’sfoolishdisplayofanger,thetantrumservedapurpose.Itwouldconvincetheinterlopersthattheirpresencewasunexpectedandunpreparedfor.SoDonCorleonehimselfwasnotangry.Hehadlongagolearnedthatsocietyimposesinsultsthatmustbeborne,comfortedbytheknowledgethatinthisworldtherecomesatimewhenthemosthumbleofmen,ifhekeepshiseyesopen,cantakehisrevengeonthemostpowerful.ItwasthisknowledgethatpreventedtheDonfromlosingthehumilityallhisfriendsadmiredinhim.

           Butnowinthegarden,behindthehouse,afour-piecebandbegantoplay.Alltheguestshadarrived.DonCorleoneputtheintrudersoutofhismindandledhistwosonstotheweddingfeast.

           ***

           Therewere,now,hundredsofguestsinthehugegarden,somedancingonthewoodenplatformbedeckedwithflowers,otherssittingatlongtablespiledhighwithspicyfoodandgallonjugsofblack,homemadewine.Thebride,ConnieCorleone,satinsplendorataspecialraisedtablewithhergroom,themaidofhonor,bridesmaidsandushers.ItwasarusticsettingintheoldItalianstyle.Nottothebride’staste,butConniehadconsentedtoa"guinea"weddingtopleaseherfatherbecauseshehadsodispleasedhiminherchoiceofahusband.