Chapter 2

           TomHagenwenttohislawofficeinthecityonThursdaymorning.HeplannedtocatchuponhispaperworksoastohaveeverythingclearedawayforthemeetingwithVirgilSollozzoonFriday.AmeetingofsuchimportancethathehadaskedtheDonforafulleveningoftalktoprepareforthepropositiontheyknewSollozzowouldofferthefamilybusiness.Hagenwantedtohavealllittledetailsclearedawaysothathecouldgotothatpreparatorymeetingwithanunencumberedmind.

           TheDonhadnotseemedsurprisedwhenHagenreturnedfromCalifornialateTuesdayeveningandtoldhimtheresultsofthenegotiationswithWoltz.HehadmadeHagengoovereverydetailandgrimacedwithdistastewhenHagentoldaboutthebeautifullittlegirlandhermother.Hehadmurmured"infamita,"hisstrongestdisapproval.HehadaskedHagenonefinalquestion."Doesthismanhaverealballs?"

           HagenconsideredexactlywhattheDonmeantbythisquestion.OvertheyearshehadlearnedthattheDon’svaluesweresodifferentfromthoseofmostpeoplethathiswordsalsocouldhaveadifferentmeaning.DidWoltzhavecharacter?Didhehaveastrongwill?Hemostcertainlydid,butthatwasnotwhattheDonwasasking.Didthemovieproducerhavethecouragenottobebluffed?Didhehavethewillingnesstosufferheavyfinanciallossdelayonhismovieswouldmean,thescandalofhisbigstarexposedasauserofheroin?Againtheanswerwasyes.ButagainthiswasnotwhattheDonmeant.FinallyHagentranslatedthequestionproperlyinhismind.