The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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little wine when the grapes are in season. I want to live in my house. The only time I’ll 
leave is to go on a little vacation or to see someone on important business and then I 
want all precautions taken. Now don’t take this amiss. I’m not preparing anything. I’m 
being prudent, I’ve always been a prudent man, there is nothing I find so little to my 
taste as carelessness in life. Women and children can afford to be careless, men 
cannot. Be leisurely in all these things, no frantic preparations to alarm our friends. It 
can be done in such a way as to seem natural. 
“Now I’m going to leave things more and more up to each of you three. I want the 
Santino regime disbanded and the men placed in your regimes. That should reassure 
our friends and show that I mean peace. Tom, I want you to put together a group of men 
who will go to Las Vegas and give me a full report on what is going on out there. Tell me 
about Fredo, what is really happening out there, I hear I wouldn’t recognize my own son. 
It seems he’s a cook now, that be amuses himself with young girls more than a grown 
man should. Well, he was always too serious when he was young and he was never the 
man for Family business. But let’s find out what really can be done out there.” 
Hagen said quietly, “Should we send your son-in-law? After all, Carlo is a native of 
Nevada, he knows his way around.” 
Don Corleone shook his head. “No, my wife is lonely here without any of her children. I 
want Constanzia and her husband moved into one of the houses on the mall. I want 
Carlo given a responsible job, maybe I’ve been too harsh on him, and”– Don Corleone 
made a grimace– “I’m short of sons. Take him out of the gambling and put him in with 
the unions where he can do some paper work and a lot of talking. He’s a good talker.” 
There was the tiniest note of contempt in the Don’s voice. 
Hagen nodded. “OK, Clemenza and I will go over all the people and put together a 
group to do the Vegas job. Do you want me to call Freddie home for a few days?” 
The Don shook his head. He said cruelly, “What for? My wife can still cook our meals. 
Let him stay out there.” The three men shifted uneasily in their seats. They had not 
realized Freddie was in such severe disfavor with his father and they suspected it must 
be because of something they did not know. 
Don Corleone sighed. “I hope to grow some good green peppers and tomatoes in the 
garden this year, more than we can eat. I’ll make you presents of them. I want a little 
peace, a little quiet and tranquillity for my old age. Well, that’s all. Have another drink if 
you like.” 

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