The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
14
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 
decided to tell her part of the truth indirectly. He explained that Luca Brasi was one of 
the most feared men in the Eastern underworld. His great talent, it was said, was that he 
could do a job of murder all by himself, without confederates, which automatically made 
discovery and conviction by the law almost impossible. Michael grimaced and said, “I 
don’t know whether all that stuff is true. I do know he is sort of a friend to my father.” 
For the first time Kay began to understand. She asked a little incredulously, “You’re not 
hinting that a man like that works for your father?” 

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