Крестный отец

           AtthattimeVitoCorleonedidnotknowtheeffectofthissmile.Itwaschillingbecauseitattemptednomenace.Hesmiledasifitwassomeprivatejokeonlyhehimselfcouldappreciate.Butsincehesmiledinthatfashiononlyinaffairsthatwerelethal,andsincethejokewasnotreallyprivateandsincehiseyesdidnotsmile,andsincehisoutwardcharacterwasusuallysoreasonableandquiet,thesuddenunmaskingofhistrueselfwasfrightening.

           Clemenzashookhishead."Idon’twantthemoney,"hesaid.Vitopocketedthebills.Hewaited.Theyallunderstoodeachother.TheyknewhehadkilledFanucciandthoughtheyneverspokeaboutittoanyonethewholeneighborhood,withinafewweeks,alsoknew.VitoCorleonewastreatedasa"manofrespect"byeveryone.ButhemadenoattempttotakeovertheFanucciracketsandtributes.

           Whatfollowedthenwasinevitable.OnenightVito’swifebroughtaneighbor,awidow,totheflat.ThewomanwasItalianandofunimpeachablecharacter.Sheworkedhardtokeepahomeforherfatherlesschildren.Hersixteen-year-oldsonbroughthomehispayenvelopesealed,tohandovertoherintheold-countrystyle;herseventeen-year-olddaughter,adressmaker,didthesame.Thewholefamilysewedbuttonsoncardsatnightatslavelaborpiecerates.Thewoman’snamewasSignoraColombo.

           VitoCorleone’swifesaid,"TheSignorahasafavortoaskofyou.Sheishavingsometrouble."

           VitoCorleoneexpectedtobeaskedformoney,whichhewasreadytogive.ButitseemedthatMrs.