Крестный отец

           Coppolaneededfivehundreddollarstoopenapizzeria;foradepositonfixturesandthespecialoven.Forreasonsnotgoneinto,creditwasnotavailable.TheDonreachedintohispocketandtookoutarollofbills.Itwasnotquiteenough.HegrimacedandsaidtoTomHagen,"Loanmeahundreddollars,I’llpayyoubackMondaywhenIgotothebank."Thesupplicantprotestedthatfourhundreddollarswouldbeample,butDonCorleonepattedhisshoulder,saying,apologetically,"Thisfancyweddingleftmealittleshortofcash."HetookthemoneyHagenextendedtohimandgaveittoAnthonyCoppolawithhisownrollofbills.

           Hagenwatchedwithquietadmiration.TheDonalwaystaughtthatwhenamanwasgenerous,hemustshowthegenerosityaspersonal.HowflatteringtoAnthonyCoppolathatamanliketheDonwouldborrowtoloanhimmoney.NotthatCoppoladidnotknowthattheDonwasamillionairebuthowmanymillionairesletthemselvesbeputtoevenasmallinconveniencebyapoorfriend?

           TheDonraisedhisheadinquiringly.Hagensaid,"He’snotonthelistbutLucaBrasiwantstoseeyou.Heunderstandsitcan’tbepublicbuthewantstocongratulateyouinperson."

           ForthefirsttimetheDonseemeddispleased.Theanswerwasdevious."Isitnecessary?"heasked.

           Hagenshrugged."YouunderstandhimbetterthanIdo.Buthewasverygratefulthatyouinvitedhimtothewedding.Heneverexpectedthat.Ithinkhewantstoshowhisgratitude."

           DonCorleonenoddedandgesturedthatLucaBrasishouldbebroughttohim.