mp.godfather-第4部分

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　Take　a　walk　around　the　neighborhood　and　see　everything　is　OK。〃　Paulie　slid　away　into　the　crowd。
　
　The　band　took　a　refreshment　break。　A　young　man　named　Nino　Valenti　picked　up　a　discarded　mandolin；　put　his　left　foot　up　on　a　chair　and　began　to　sing　a　coarse　Sicilian　love　song。　Nino　Valenti's　face　was　handsome　though　bloated　by　continual　drinking　and　he　was　already　a　little　drunk。　He　rolled　his　eyes　as　his　tongue　caressed　the　obscene　lyrics。　The　women　shrieked　with　glee　and　the　men　shouted　the　last　word　of　each　stanza　with　the　singer。
　
　Don　Corleone；　notoriously　straitlaced　in　such　matters；　though　his　stout　wife　was　screaming　joyfully　with　the　others；　disappeared　tactfully　into　the　house。　Seeing　this；　Sonny　Corleone　made　his　way　to　the　bride's　table　and　sat　down　beside　young　Lucy　Mancini；　the　maid　of　honor。　They　were　safe。　His　wife　was　in　the　kitchen　putting　the　last　touches　on　the　serving　of　the　wedding　cake。　Sonny　whispered　a　few　words　in　the　young　girl's　ear　and　she　rose。　Sonny　waited　a　few　minutes　and　then　casually　followed　her；　stopping　to　talk　with　a　guest　here　and　there　as　he　worked　his　way　through　the　crowd。
　
　All　eyes　followed　them。　The　maid　of　honor；　thoroughly　Americanized　by　three　years　of　college；　was　a　ripe　girl　who　already　had　a　〃reputation。〃　All　through　the　marriage　rehearsals　she　had　flirted　with　Sonny　Corleone　in　a　teasing；　joking　way　she　thought　was　permitted　because　he　was　the　best　man　and　her　wedding　partner。　Now　holding　her　pink　gown　up　off　the　ground；　Lucy　Mancini　went　into　the　house；　smiling　with　false　innocence；　ran　lightly　up　the　stairs　to　the　bathroom。　She　stayed　there　for　a　few　moments。　When　she　came　out　Sonny　Corleone　was　on　the　landing　above；　beckoning　her　upward。
　
　From　behind　the　closed　window　of　Don　Corleone's　〃office；〃　a　slightly　raised　corner　room；　Thomas　Hagen　watched　the　wedding　party　in　the　festooned　garden。　The　walls　behind　him　were　stacked　with　law　books。　Hagen　was　the　Don's　lawyer　and　acting　Consigliere；　or　counselor；　and　as　such　held　the　most　vital　subordinate　position　in　the　family　business。　He　and　the　Don　had　solved　many　a　knotty　problem　in　this　room；　and　so　when　he　saw　the　Godfather　leave　the　festivities　and　enter　the　house；　he　knew；　wedding　or　no；　there　would　be　a　little　work　this　day。　The　Don　would　be　ing　to　see　him。　Then　Hagen　saw　Sonny　Corleone　whisper　in　Lucy　Mancini's　ear　and　their　little　edy　as　he　followed　her　into　the　house。　Hagen　grimaced；　debated　whether　to　inform　the　Don；　and　decided　against　it。　He　went　to　the　desk　and　picked　up　a　handwritten　list　of　the　people　who　had　been　granted　permission　to　see　Don　Corleone　privately。　When　the　Don　entered　the　room；　Hagen　handed　him　the　list。　Don　Corleone　nodded　and　said；　〃Leave　Bonasera　to　the　end。〃
　
　Hagen　used　the　French　doors　and　went　directly　out　into　the　garden　to　where　the　supplicants　clustered　around　the　barrel　of　wine。　He　pointed　to　the　baker；　the　pudgy　Nazorine。
　
　Don　Corleone　greeted　the　baker　with　an　embrace。　They　had　played　together　as　children　in　Italy　and　had　grown　up　in　friendship。　Every　Easter　freshly　baked　clotted…cheese　and　wheat…germ　pies；　their　crusts　yolk…gold；　big　around　as　truck　wheels；　arrived　at　Don　Corleone's　home。　On　Christmas；　on　family　birthdays；　rich　creamy　pastries　proclaimed　the　Nazorines'　respect。　And　all　through　the　years；　lean　and　fat；　Nazorine　cheerfully　paid　his　dues　to　the　bakery　union　organized　by　the　Don　in　his　salad　days。　Never　asking　for　a　favor　in　return　except　for　the　chance　to　buy　black…market　OPA　sugar　coupons　during　the　war。　Now　the　time　had　e　for　the　baker　to　claim　his　rights　as　a　loyal　friend；　and　Don　Corleone　looked　forward　with　great　pleasure　to　granting　his　request。
　
　He　gave　the　baker　a　Di　Nobili　cigar　and　a　glass　of　yellow　Strega　and　put　his　hand　on　the　man's　shoulder　to　urge　him　on。　That　was　the　mark　of　the　Don's　humanity。　He　knew　from　bitter　experience　what　courage　it　took　to　ask　a　favor　from　a　fellow　man。
　
　The　baker　told　the　story　of　his　daughter　and　Enzo。　A　fine　Italian　lad　from　Sicily；　captured　by　the　American　Army；　sent　to　the　United　States　as　a　prisoner　of　war；　given　parole　to　help　our　war　effort！　A　pure　and　honorable　love　had　sprung　up　between　honest　Enzo　and　his　sheltered　Katherine　but　now　that　the　war　was　ended　the　poor　lad　would　be　repatriated　to　Italy　and　Nazorine's　daughter　would　surely　die　of　a　broken　heart。　Only　Godfather　Corleone　could　help　this　afflicted　couple。　He　was　their　last　hope。
　
　The　Don　walked　Nazorine　up　and　down　the　room；　his　hand　on　the　baker's　shoulder；　his　head　nodding　with　understanding　to　keep　up　the　man's　courage。　When　the　baker　had　finished；　Don　Corleone　smiled　at　him　and　said；　〃My　dear　friend；　put　all　your　worries　aside。〃　He　went　on　to　explain　very　carefully　what　must　be　done。　The　Congressman　of　the　district　must　be　petitioned。　The　Congressman　would　propose　a　special　bill　that　would　allow　Enzo　to　bee　a　citizen。　The　bill　would　surely　pass　Congress。　A　privilege　all　those　rascals　extended　to　each　other。　Don　Corleone　explained　that　this　would　cost　money；　the　going　price　was　now　two　thousand　dollars。　He；　Don　Corleone；　would　guarantee　performance　and　accept　payment。　Did　his　friend　agree？
　
　The　baker　nodded　his　head　vigorously。　He　did　not　expect　such　a　great　favor　for　nothing。　That　was　understood。　A　special　Act　of　Congress　does　not　e　cheap。　Nazorine　was　almost　tearful　in　his　thanks。　Don　Corleone　walked　him　to　the　door；　assuring　him　that　petent　people　would　be　sent　to　the　bakery　to　arrange　all　details；　plete　all　necessary　documents。　The　baker　embraced　him　before　disappearing　into　the　garden。
　
　Hagen　smiled　at　the　Don。　〃That's　a　good　investment　for　Nazorine。　A　son…in…law　and　a　cheap　lifetime　helper　in　his　bakery　all　for　two　thousand　dollars。〃　He　paused。　〃Who　do　I　give　this　job　to？〃
　
　Don　Corleone　frowned　in　thought。　〃Not　to　our　paisan。　Give　it　to　the　Jew　in　the　next　district。　Have　the　home　addresses　changed。　I　think　there　might　be　many　such　cases　now　the　war　is　over；　we　should　have　extra　people　in　Washington　that　can　handle　the　overflow　and　not　raise　the　price。〃　Hagen　made　a　note　on　his　pad。　〃Not　Congressman　Luteco。　Try　Fischer。〃
　
　The　next　man　Hagen　brought　in　was　a　very　simple　case。　His　name　was　Anthony　Coppola　and　he　was　the　son　of　a　man　Don　Corleone　had　worked　with　in　the　railroad　yards　in　his　youth。　Coppola　needed　five　hundred　dollars　to　open　a　pizzeria；　for　a　deposit　on　fixtures　and　the　special　oven。　For　reasons　not　gone　into；　credit　was　not　available。　The　Don　reached　into　his　pocket　and　took　out　a　roll　of　bills。　It　was　not　quite　enough。　He　grimaced　and　said　to　Tom　Hagen；　〃Loan　me　a　hundred　dollars；　I'll　pay　you　back　Monday　when　I　go　to　the　bank。〃　The　supplicant　protested　that　four　hundred　dollars　would　be　ample；　but　Don　Corleone　patted　his　shoulder；　saying；　apologetically；　〃This　fancy　wedding　left　me　a　little　short　of　cash。〃　He　took　the　money　Hagen　extended　to　him　and　gave　it　to　Anthony　Coppola　with　his　own　roll　of　bills。
　
　Hagen　watched　with　quiet　admiration。　The　Don　always　taught　that　when　a　man　was　generous；　he　must　show　the　generosity　as　personal。　How　flattering　to　Anthony　Coppola　that　a　man　like　the　Don　would　borrow　to　loan　him　money。　Not　that　Coppola　did　not　know　that　the　Don　was　a　millionaire　but　how　many　millionaires　let　themselves　be　put　to　even　a　small　inconvenience　by　a　poor　friend？
　
　The　Don　raised　his　head　inquiringly。　Hagen　said；　〃He's　not　on　the　list　but　Luca　Brasi　wants　to　see　you。　He　understands　it　can't　be　public　but　he　wants　to　congratulate　you　in　person。〃
　
　For　the　first　time　the　Don　seemed　displeased。　The　answer　was　devious。　〃Is　it　necessary？〃　he　asked。
　
　Hagen　shrugged。　〃You　understand　him　better　than　I　do。　But　he　was　very　grateful　that　you　invited　him　to　the　wedding。　He　never　expected　that。　I　think　he　wants　to　show　his　gratitude。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　nodded　and　gestured　that　Luca　Brasi　should　be　brought　to　him。
　
　In　the　garden　Kay　Adams　was　struck　by　the　violet　fury　imprinted　on　the　face　of　Luca　Brasi。　She　asked　about　him。　Michael　had　brought　Kay　to　the　wedding　so　that　she　would　slowly　and　perhaps　without　too　much　of　a　shock；　absorb　the　truth　about　his　father。　But　so　far　she　seemed　to　regard　the　Don　as　a　slightly　unethical　businessman。　Michael　de