The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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married women who were in trouble, I was making good money. I was out of the front 
tines. When I got caught I felt like a deserter that had been hauled in. But I was lucky, a 
friend pulled some strings and got pie off but now the big hospitals won’t let me operate. 
So here I am. Giving good advice again which is being ignored just like in the old days.” 
“I’m not ignoring it,” Johnny Fontane said. “I’m thinking it over.” 
Lucy finally changed the subject. “What are you doing in Vegas, Johnny? Relaxing from 
your duties as big-time Hollywood wheel or working?” 
Johnny shook his head. “Mike Corleone wants to see me and have a talk. He’s flying in 
tonight with Tom Hagen. Tom said they’ll be seeing you, Lucy. You know what it’s all 
about?” 
Lucy shook her head. “We’re all having dinner tether tomorrow night. Freddie too. I think 
it might have something to do with the hotel. The casino has been dropping money 
lately, which shouldn’t be. The Don might want Mike to check it out.” 
“I hear Mike finally got his face fixed,” Johnny said. 
Lucy laughed. “I guess Kay talked him into it. He wouldn’t do it when they were married. 
I wonder why? It looked so awful and made his nose drip. He should have had it done 
sooner.” She paused for a moment. “Jules was called in by the Corleone Family for that 
operation. They used him as a consultant and as observer.” 
Johnny nodded and said dryly, “I recommended him for it.” 
“Oh,” Lucy said. “Anyway, Mike said he wanted to do something for Jules. That’s why 
he’s having us to dinner tomorrow night.” 
Jules said musingly, “He didn’t trust anybody. He warned me to keep track of what 
everybody did. It was fairly straight, ordinary surgery. Any competent man could do it.” 
There was a sound from the bedroom of the suite and they looked toward the drapes. 
Nino had become concious again. Johnny went and sat on the bed. Jules and Lucy 
went over to the foot of the bed. Nino gave them a wan grin. “OK, I’ll stop being a wise 
guy. I feel really lousy. Johnny, remember about a year ago, what happened when we 
were with those two broads down in Palm Springs? I swear to you I wasn’t jealous about 
what happened. I was glad. You believe me, Johnny?” 
Johnny said reassuringly, “Sure, Nino, I believe you.” 
Lucy and Jules looked at each other. From everything they had heard and knew about 

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