Крестный отец

           Youneverarmedyourselfwithtruefriends.Afterall,thepoliceguardedyou,therewerecourtsoflaw,youandyourscouldcometonoharm.YoudidnotneedDonCorleone.Verywell.MyfeelingswerewoundedbutIamnotthatsortofpersonwhythrustshisfriendshiponthosewhodonotvalueit—onthosewhothinkmeoflittleaccount."TheDonpausedandgavetheundertakerapolite,ironicsmile."Nowyoucometomeandsay,‘DonCorleonegivemejustice.’Andyoudonotaskwithrespect.Youdonotoffermeyourfriendship.Youcomeintomyhomeonthebridaldayofmydaughterandyouaskmetodomurderandyousay"—heretheDon’svoicebecameascornfulmimicry—"‘Iwillpayyouanything.’No,no,Iamnotoffended,butwhathaveIeverdonetomakeyoutreatmesodisrespectfully?"

           Bonaseracriedoutinhisanguishandhisfear,"Americahasbeengoodtome.Iwantedtobeagoodcitizen.IwantedmychildtobeAmerican."

           TheDonclappedhishandstogetherwithdecisiveapproval."Wellspoken.Veryfine.Thenyouhavenothingtocomplainabout.Thejudgehasruled.Americahasruled.Bringyourdaughterflowersandaboxofcandywhenyougovisitherinthehospital.Thatwillcomforther.Becontent.Afterall,thisisnotaseriousaffair,theboyswereyoung,high-spirited,andoneofthemisthesonofapowerfulpolitician.No,mydearAmerigo,youhavealwaysbeenhonest.Imustadmit,thoughyouspurnedmyfriendship,thatIwouldtrustthegivenwordofAmerigoBonaseramorethanIwouldanyotherman’s.