Крестный отец

           Therewasnoexpressiononhisfacewhenhesaidgood-byetoHagen.

           Backintheroom,DonCorleoneaskedHagen,"Whatdidyouthinkofthatman?"

           "He’saSicilian,"Hagensaiddryly.

           TheDonnoddedhisheadthoughtfully.Thenheturnedtohissonandsaidgently,"Santino,neverletanyoneoutsidethefamilyknowwhatyouarethinking.Neverletthemknowwhatyouhaveunderyourfingernails.Ithinkyourbrainisgoingsoftfromallthatcomedyyouplaywiththatyounggirl.Stopitandpayattentiontobusiness.Nowgetoutofmysight."

           HagensawthesurpriseonSonny’sface,thenangerathisfather’sreproach.DidhereallythinktheDonwouldbeignorantofhisconquest,Hagenwondered.Anddidhereallynotknowwhatadangerousmistakehehadmadethismorning?Ifthatweretrue,HagenwouldneverwishtobetheConsiglieretotheDonofSantinoCorleone.

           DonCorleonewaiteduntilSonnyhadlefttheroom.Thenhesankbackintohisleatherarmchairandmotionedbrusquelyforadrink.Hagenpouredhimaglassofanisette.TheDonlookedupathim."SendLucaBrasitoseeme,"hesaid.

           ***

           Threemonthslater,HagenhurriedthroughthepaperworkinhiscityofficehopingtoleaveearlyenoughforsomeChristmasshoppingforhiswifeandchildren.HewasinterruptedbyaphonecallfromaJohnnyFontanebubblingwithhighspirits.Thepicturehadbeenshot,therushes,whateverthehelltheywere,Hagenthought,werefabulous.