Крестный отец

           BesidestheFiveFamiliesofNewYork,therewererepresentativesfromtenotherFamiliesacrossthecountry,withtheexceptionofChicago,thatblacksheepoftheirworld.TheyhadgivenuptryingtocivilizeChicago,andtheysawnopointinincludingthosemaddogsinthisimportantconference.

           Abarhadbeensetupandasmallbuffet.Eachrepresentativetotheconferencehadbeenallowedoneaide.MostoftheDonshadbroughttheirConsiglieresasaidessotherewerecomparativelyfewyoungmenintheroom.TomHagenwasoneofthoseyoungmenandtheonlyonewhowasnotSicilian.Hewasanobjectofcuriosity,afreak.

           Hagenknewhismanners.Hedidnotspeak,hedidnotsmile.Hewaitedonhisboss,DonCorleone,withalltherespectofafavoriteearlwaitingonhisking;bringinghimacolddrink,lightinghiscigar,positioninghisashtray;withrespectbutnoobsequiousness.

           Hagenwastheonlyoneinthatroomwhoknewtheidentityoftheportraitshangingonthedarkpaneledwalls.Theyweremostlyportraitsoffabulousfinancialfiguresdoneinrichoils.OnewasofSecretaryoftheTreasuryHamilton.HagencouldnothelpthinkingthatHamiltonmighthaveapprovedofthispeacemeetingbeingheldinabankinginstitution.Nothingwasmorecalming,moreconducivetopurereason,thantheatmosphereofmoney.

           Thearrivaltimehadbeenstaggeredforbetweennine-thirtytotenA.M.DonCorleone,inasensethehostsincehehadinitiatedthepeacetalks,hadbeenthefirsttoarrive;oneofhismanyvirtueswaspunctuality.