Крестный отец

           Hestutteredovertheflowerycongatulationsheofferedandhisformalhopethatthefirstgrandchildwouldbemasculine.HethenhandedtheDonanenvelopestuffedwithcashasagiftforthebridalcouple.

           Sothatwaswhathewantedtodo.HagennoticedthechangeinDonCorleone.TheDonreceivedBrasiasakinggreetsasubjectwhohasdonehimanenormousservice,neverfamiliarbutwithregalrespect.Witheverygesture,witheveryword,DonCorleonemadeitcleartoLucaBrasithathewasvalued.Notforonemomentdidheshowsurpriseattheweddinggiftbeingpresentedtohimpersonally.Heunderstood.

           Themoneyintheenvelopewassuretobemorethananyoneelsehadgiven.Brasihadspentmanyhoursdecidingonthesum,comparingittowhattheotherguestsmightoffer.Hewantedtobethemostgeneroustoshowthathehadthemostrespect,andthatwaswhyhehadgivenhisenvelopetotheDonpersonally,agaucherietheDonoverlookedinhisownflowerysentenceofthanks.HagensawLucaBrasi’sfaceloseitsmaskoffury,swellwithprideandpleasure.BrasikissedtheDon’shandbeforehewentoutthedoorthatHagenheldopen.HagenprudentlygaveBrasiafriendlysmilewhichthesquatmanacknowledgedwithapolitestretchingofrubbery,veal-coloredlips.

           WhenthedoorclosedDonCorleonegaveasmallsighofrelief.Brasiwastheonlymanintheworldwhocouldmakehimnervous.Themanwaslikeanaturalforce,nottrulysubjecttocontrol.Hehadtobehandledasgingerlyasdynamite.TheDonshrugged.