Крестный отец

           HetickledKhartoum’sbellyandsaidwithsincereadmiration,"Lookatthatcockonhim.Ishouldhavesuchacock."

           Theywentbacktothemansiontohavedinner.Itwasservedbythreewaitersunderthecommandofabutler,thetablelinenandwarewereallgoldthreadandsilver,butHagenfoundthefoodmediocre.Woltzobviouslylivedalone,andjustasobviouslywasnotamanwhocaredaboutfood.HagenwaiteduntiltheyhadbothlituphugeHavanacigarsbeforeheaskedWoltz,"DoesJohnnygetitornot?"

           "Ican’t,"Woltzsaid."Ican’tputJohnnyintothatpictureevenifIwantedto.Thecontractsareallsignedforalltheperformersandthecamerasrollnextweek.There’snowayIcanswingit."

           Hagensaidimpatiently,"Mr.Woltz,thebigadvantageofdealingwithamanatthetopisthatsuchanexcuseisnotvalid.Youcandoanythingyouwanttodo."Hepuffedonhiscigar."Don’tyoubelievemyclientcankeephispromises?"

           Woltzsaiddryly,"IbelievethatI’mgoingtohavelabortrouble.Goffcalledmeuponthat,thesonofabitch,andthewayhetalkedtomeyou’dneverguessIpayhimahundredgrandayearunderthetable.AndIbelieveyoucangetthatfaghe-manstarofmineoffheroin.ButIdon’tcareaboutthatandIcanfinancemyownpictures.BecauseIhatethatbastardFontane.TellyourbossthisisonefavorIcan’tgivebutthatheshouldtrymeagainonanythingelse.Anythingatall.