Крестный отец

           TheotherDonsintheroomapplaudedandrosetoshakehandswitheverybodyinsightandtocongratulateDonCorleoneandDonTattagliaontheirnewfriendship.Itwasnotperhapsthewarmestfriendshipintheworld,theywouldnotsendeachotherChristmasgiftgreetings,buttheywouldnotmurdereachother.Thatwasfriendshipenoughinthisworld,allthatwasneeded.

           SincehissonFreddiewasundertheprotectionoftheMolinariFamilyintheWest,DonCorleonelingeredwiththeSanFranciscoDonafterthemeetingtothankhim.MolinarisaidenoughforDonCorleonetogatherthatFreddiehadfoundhisnicheoutthere,washappyandhadbecomesomethingofaladies’man.Hehadageniusforrunningahotel,itseemed.DonCorleoneshookhisheadinwonder,asmanyfathersdowhentoldofundreamed-oftalentsintheirchildren.Wasn’tittruethatsometimesthegreatestmisfortunesbroughtunforeseenrewards?Theybothagreedthatthiswasso.MeanwhileCorleonemadeitcleartotheSanFranciscoDonthathewasinhisdebtforthegreatservicedoneinprotectingFreddie.Heletitbeknownthathisinfluencewouldbeexertedsothattheimportantracingwireswouldalwaysbeavailabletohispeoplenomatterwhatchangesoccurredinthepowerstructureintheyearstocome,animportantguaranteesincethestruggleoverthisfacilitywasaconstantopenwoundcomplicatedbythefactthattheChicagopeoplehadtheirheavyhandinit.ButDonCorleonewasnotwithoutinfluenceeveninthatlandofbarbariansandsohispromisewasagiftofgold.