Крестный отец

           Shehadfoundherparentscoollyunsympatheticandcuriouslyamused.HermotherhadhadalittlesympathyandhadevenaskedherfathertospeaktoCarloRizzi.Herfatherhadrefused."Sheismydaughter,"hehadsaid,"butnowshebelongstoherhusband.Heknowshisduties.EventheKingofItalydidn’tdaretomeddlewiththerelationshipofhusbandandwife.Gohomeandlearnhowtobehavesothathewillnotbeatyou."

           Conniehadsaidangrilytoherfather,"Didyoueverhityourwife?"Shewashisfavoriteandcouldspeaktohimsoimpudently.Hehadanswered,"Shenevergavemereasontobeather."Andhermotherhadnoddedandsmiled.

           Shetoldthemhowherhusbandhadtakentheweddingpresentmoneyandnevertoldherwhathedidwithit.Herfatherhadshruggedandsaid,"Iwouldhavedonethesameifmywifehadbeenaspresumptuousasyou."

           Andsoshehadreturnedhome,atittlebewildered,alittlefrightened.Shehadalwaysbeenherfather’sfavoriteandshecouldnotunderstandhiscoldnessnow.

           ButtheDonhadnotbeensounsympatheticashepretended.HemadeinquiriesandfoundoutwhatCarloRizzihaddonewiththeweddingpresentmoney.HehadmenassignedtoCarloRizzi’sbookmakingoperationwhowouldreporttoHageneverythingRizzididonthejob.ButtheDoncouldnotinterfere.Howexpectamantodischargehishusbandlydutiestoawifewhosefamilyhefeared?Itwasanimpossiblesituationandhedarednotmeddle.