Крестный отец

           JohnnyFontanereacheddownandliftedthebrideupontothebandstandsothatConniestoodbetweenhimandNino.Bothmencroucheddown,facingeachother,Ninopluckingthemandolinforafewharshchords.Itwasanoldroutineoftheirs,amockbattleandwooing,usingtheirvoiceslikeswords,eachshoutingachorusinturn.Withthemostdelicatecourtesy,JohnnyletNino’svoiceoverwhelmhisown,letNinotakethebridefromhisarm,letNinoswingintothelastvictoriousstanzawhilehisownvoicediedaway.Thewholeweddingpartybrokeintoshoutsofapplause,thethreeofthemembracedeachotherattheend.Theguestsbeggedforanothersong.

           OnlyDonCorleone,standinginthecornerentranceofthehouse,sensedsomethingamiss.Cheerily,withbluffgoodhumor,carefulnottogiveoffensetohisguests,hecalledout,"Mygodsonhascomethreethousandmilestodoushonorandnoonethinkstowethisthroat?"AtonceadozenfullwineglasseswerethrustatJohnnyFontane.HetookasipfromallandrushedtoembracehisGodfather.Ashedidsohewhisperedsomethingintotheolderman’sear.DonCorleoneledhimintothehouse.

           TomHagenheldouthishandwhenJohnnycameintotheroom.Johnnyshookitandsaid,"Howareyou,Tom?"Butwithouthisusualcharmthatconsistedofagenuinewarmthforpeople.Hagenwasalittlehurtbythiscoolnessbutshruggeditoff.ItwasoneofthepenaltiesforbeingtheDon’shatchetman.