Крестный отец

           Helitacigarwhiletheauthortoldhimaboutaspeciallyinterestingchapterandthenfinallysaid,"Gee,I’dliketoreaditwhenyou’refinished.Howaboutsendingmeacopy?MaybeIcangetyouagooddealforit,betterthanyougotwithWoltz."

           Theeagernessintheauthor’svoicetoldhimthathehadguessedright.Woltzhadchiseledtheguy,givenhimpeanutsforthebook.JohnnymentionedthathemightbeinNewYorkrightaftertheholidaysandwouldtheauthorwanttocomeandhavedinnerwithsomeofhisfriends."Iknowafewgood-lookingbroads,"Johnnysaidjokingly.TheauthorlaughedandsaidOK.

           NextJohnnycalledupthedirectorandcameramanonthefilmhehadjustfinishedtothankthemforhavinghelpedhiminthefilm.HetoldthemconfidentiallythatheknewWoltzhadbeenagainsthimandhedoublyappreciatedtheirhelpandthatiftherewaseveranythinghecoulddoforthemtheyshouldjustcall.

           Thenhemadethehardestcallofall,theonetoJackWoltz.Hethankedhimforthepartinthepictureandtoldhimhowhappyhewouldbetoworkforhimanytime.HedidthismerelytothrowWoltzoffthetrack.Hehadalwaysbeenverysquare,verystraight.InafewdaysWoltzwouldfindoutabouthismaneuveringandbeastoundedbythetreacheryofthiscall,whichwasexactlywhatJohnnyFontanewantedhimtofeel.

           Afterthathesatatthedeskandpuffedathiscigar.TherewaswhiskeyonasidetablebuthehadmadesomesortofpromisetohimselfandHagenthathewouldn’tdrink.Heshouldn’tevenbesmoking.