Крестный отец

           Whowerethosemiserabletenantstocomplainaboutnoisefromapooranimalwhentheypaidsuchalowrent?AtthefinishhethrewthethirtydollarsVitoCorleonehadgivenhimonthetableandsaidinthemostsincerefashion,"YourgoodheartinhelpingthispoorwidowhasshamedmeandIwishtoshowthatI,too,havesomeChristiancharity.Herrentwillremainwhatitwas."

           Allconcernedplayedthiscomedyprettily.Vitopouredwine,calledforcakes,wrungMr.Roberto’shandandpraisedhiswarmheart.Mr.RobertosighedandsaidthathavingmadetheacquaintanceofsuchamanasVitoCorleonerestoredhisfaithinhumannature.Finallytheytorethemselvesawayfromeachother.Mr.Roberto,hisbonesturnedtojellywithfearathisnarrowescape,caughtthestreetcartohishomeintheBronxandtooktohisbed.Hedidnotreappearinhistenementsforthreedays.

           ***

           VitoCorleonewasnowa"manofrespect"intheneighborhood.HewasreputedtobeamemberoftheMafiaofSicily.Onedayamanwhorancardgamesinafurnishedroomcametohimandvoluntarilypaidhimtwentydollarseachweekforhis"friendship."Hehadonlytovisitthegameonceortwiceaweektolettheplayersunderstandtheywereunderhisprotection.

           Storeownerswhohadproblemswithyounghoodlumsaskedhimtointercede.Hedidsoandwasproperlyrewarded.Soonhehadtheenormousincomeforthattimeandplaceofonehundreddollarsaweek.