Крестный отец

           Thebandtookarefreshmentbreak.AyoungmannamedNinoValentipickedupadiscardedmandolin,puthisleftfootuponachairandbegantosingacoarseSicilianlovesong.NinoValenti’sfacewashandsomethoughbloatedbycontinualdrinkingandhewasalreadyalittledrunk.Herolledhiseyesashistonguecaressedtheobscenelyrics.Thewomenshriekedwithgleeandthemenshoutedthelastwordofeachstanzawiththesinger.

           DonCorleone,notoriouslystraitlacedinsuchmatters,thoughhisstoutwifewasscreamingjoyfullywiththeothers,disappearedtactfullyintothehouse.Seeingthis,SonnyCorleonemadehiswaytothebride’stableandsatdownbesideyoungLucyMancini,themaidofhonor.Theyweresafe.Hiswifewasinthekitchenputtingthelasttouchesontheservingoftheweddingcake.Sonnywhisperedafewwordsintheyounggirl’searandsherose.Sonnywaitedafewminutesandthencasuallyfollowedher,stoppingtotalkwithaguesthereandthereasheworkedhiswaythroughthecrowd.

           Alleyesfollowedthem.Themaidofhonor,thoroughlyAmericanizedbythreeyearsofcollege,wasaripegirlwhoalreadyhada"reputation."AllthroughthemarriagerehearsalsshehadflirtedwithSonnyCorleoneinateasing,jokingwayshethoughtwaspermittedbecausehewasthebestmanandherweddingpartner.Nowholdingherpinkgownupofftheground,LucyManciniwentintothehouse,smilingwithfalseinnocence;ranlightlyupthestairstothebathroom.Shestayedthereforafewmoments.