Крестный отец

           Idon’tcarehowmanyguineaMafiagoombahscomeoutofthewoodwork."Heleanedback."Awordofadvicetoyou,myfriend.J.EdgarHoover,Iassumeyou’veheardofhim"—Woltzsmiledsardonically—"isapersonalfriendofmine.IfIlethimknowI’mbeingpressured,youguyswillneverknowwhathityou."

           Hagenlistenedpatiently.HehadexpectedbetterfromamanofWoltz’sstature.Wasitpossiblethatamanwhoactedthisstupidlycouldrisetotheheadofacompanyworthhundredsofmillions?ThatwassomethingtothinkaboutsincetheDonwaslookingfornewthingstoputmoneyinto,andifthetopbrainsofthisindustryweresodumb,moviesmightbethething.Theabuseitselfbotheredhimnotatall.HagenhadlearnedtheartofnegotiationfromtheDonhimself."Nevergetangry,"theDonhadinstructed."Nevermakeathreat.Reasonwithpeople."Theword"reason"soundedsomuchbetterinItalian,ragione,torejoin.Theartofthiswastoignoreallinsults,allthreats;toturntheothercheek.HagenhadseentheDonsitatanegotiatingtableforeighthours,swallowinginsults,tryingtopersuadeanotoriousandmegalomaniacstrong-armmantomendhisways.AttheendoftheeighthoursDonCorleonehadthrownuphishandsinahelplessgestureandsaidtotheothermenatthetable,"Butnoonecanreasonwiththisfellow,"andhadstalkedoutofthemeetingroom.Thestrong-armmanhadturnedwhitewithfear.EmissariesweresenttobringtheDonbackintotheroom.