Крестный отец

           Twokidsintwoyears."

           Kaysaidtartly,"Andyou’remoreYankeethanItalian.Yourfirsteveninghomeandyouspenditonbusiness."Butshesmiledathimwhenshesaidit."Youwon’tbehomelate?"

           "Beforemidnight,"Michaelsaid."Don’twaitupformeifyoufeeltired."

           "I’llwaitup,"Kaysaid.

           Atthemeetingthatnight,inthecornerroomlibraryofDonCorleone’shouse,weretheDonhimself,Michael,TomHagen,CarloRizzi,andthetwocaporegimes,ClemenzaandTessio.

           Theatmosphereofthemeetingwasbynomeanssocongenialasinformerdays.EversinceDonCorleonehadannouncedhissemiretirementandMichael’stake-overoftheFamilybusiness,therehadbeensomestrain.SuccessionincontrolofsuchanenterpriseastheFamilywasbynomeanshereditary.InanyotherFamilypowerfulcaporegimessuchasClemenzaandTessiomighthavesucceededtothepositionofDon.OratleasttheymighthavebeenallowedtosplitoffandformtheirownFamily.

           Then,too,eversinceDonCorleonehadmadethepeacewiththeFiveFamilies,thestrengthoftheCorleoneFamilyhaddeclined.TheBarziniFamilywasnowindisputablythemostpowerfuloneintheNewYorkarea;alliedastheyweretotheTattaglias,theynowheldthepositiontheCorleoneFamilyhadonceheld.AlsotheywereslylywhittlingdownthepoweroftheCorleoneFamily,musclingintotheirgamblingareas,testingtheCorleones’reactionsand,findingthemweak,establishingtheirownbookmakers.

           TheBarzinisandTattagliasweredelightedwiththeDon’sretirement.