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The Don paused。 〃Instruct my sons； all three of them； that they will acpany me to the hospital to see poor Genco。 I want them to pay their last respects。 Tell Freddie to drive the big car and ask Johnny if he will e with us； as a special favor to me。〃 He saw Hagen look at him questioningly。 〃I want you to go to California tonight。 You won't have time to go see Genco。 But don't leave until I e back from the hospital and speak with you。 Understood？〃
〃Understood；〃 Hagen said。 〃What time should Fred have the car waiting？〃
〃When the guests have left；〃 Don Corleone said。 〃Genco will wait for me。〃
〃The Senator called；〃 Hagen said。 〃Apologizing for not ing personally but that you would understand。 He probably means those two FBI men across the street taking down license numbers。 But he sent his gift over by special messenger。〃
The Don nodded。 He did not think it necessary to mention that he himself had warned the Senator not to e。 〃Did he send a nice present？〃
Hagen made a face of impressed approval that was very strangely Italian on his German…Irish features。 〃Antique silver； very valuable。 The kids can sell it for a grand at least。 The Senator spent a lot of time getting exactly the right thing。 For those kind of people that's more important than how much it costs。〃
Don Corleone did not hide his pleasure that so great a man as the Senator had shown him such respect。 The Senator； like Luca Brasi； was one of the great stones in the Don's power structure； and he too； with this gift； had resworn his loyalty。
**********
When Johnny Fontane appeared in the garden； Kay Adams recognized him immediately。 She was truly surprised。 〃You never told me your family knew Johnny Fontane；〃 she said。 〃Now I'm sure I'll marry you。〃
〃Do you want to meet him？〃 Michael asked。
〃Not now；〃 Kay said。 She sighed。 〃I was in love with him for three years。 I used to e down to New York whenever he sang at the Capitol and scream my head off。 He was so wonderful。〃
〃We'll meet him later；〃 Michael said。
When Johnny finished singing and vanished into the house with Don Corleone； Kay said archly to Michael； 〃Don't tell me a big movie star like Johnny Fontane has to ask your father for a favor？〃
〃He's my father's godson；〃 Michael said。 〃And if it wasn't for my father he might not be a big movie star today。〃
Kay Adams laughed with delight。 〃That sounds like another great story。〃
Michael shook his head 〃I can't tell that one；〃 he said。
〃Trust me；〃 she said。
He told her。 He told her without being funny。 He told it without pride。 He told it without any sort of explanation except that eight years before his father had been more impetuous； and because the matter concerned his godson； the Don considered it an affair of personal honor。
The story was quickly told。 Eight years ago Johnny Fontane had made an extraordinary success singing with a popular dance band。 He had bee a top radio attraction。 Unfortunately the band leader； a well…known show business personality named Les Halley； had signed Johnny to a five…year personal services contract。 It was a mon show business practice。 Les Halley could now loan Johnny out and pocket most of the money。
Don Corleone entered the negotiations personally。 He offered Les Halley twenty thousand dollars to release Johnny Fontane from the personal services contract。 Halley offered to take only fifty percent of Johnny's earnings。 Don Corleone was amused。 He dropped his offer from twenty thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars。 The band leader； obviously not a man of the world outside his beloved show business； pletely missed the significance of this lower offer。 He refused。
The next day Don Corleone went to see the band leader personally。 He brought with him his two best friends； Genco Abbandando； who was his Consigliere； and Luca Brasi。 With no other witnesses Don Corleone persuaded Les Halley to sign a document giving up all rights to all services from Johnny Fontane upon payment of a certified check to the amount of ten thousand dollars。 Don Corleone did this by putting a pistol to the forehead of the band leader and assuring him with the utmost seriousness that either his signature or his brains would rest on that document in exactly one minute。 Les Halley signed。 Don Corleone pocketed his pistol and handed over the certified check。
The rest was history。 Johnny Fontane went on to bee the greatest singing sensation in the country。 He made Hollywood musicals that earned a fortune for his studio。 His records made millions of dollars。 Then he divorced his childhood…sweetheart wife and left his two children； to marry the most glamorous blond star in motion pictures。 He soon learned that she was a 〃whore。〃 He drank； he gambled； he chased other women。 He lost his singing voice。 His records stopped selling。 The studio did not renew his contract。 And so now he had e back to his Godfather。
Kay said thoughtfully； 〃Are you sure you're not jealous of your father？ Everything you've told me about him shows him doing something for other people。 He must be goodhearted。〃 She smiled wryly。 〃Of course his methods are not exactly constitutional。〃
Michael sighed。 〃I guess that's the way it sounds； but let me tell you this。 You know those Arctic explorers who leave caches of food scattered on the route to the North Pole？ Just in case they may need them someday？ That's my father's favors。 Someday he'll be at each one of those people's houses and they had better e across。〃
**********
It was nearly twilight before the wedding cake was shown； exclaimed over and eaten。 Specially baked by Nazorine； it was cleverly decorated with shells of cream so dizzyingly delicious that the bride greedily plucked them from the corpse of the cake before she whizzed away on her honeymoon with her blond groom。 The Don politely sped his guests' departure； noting meanwhile that the black sedan with its FBI men was no longer visible。
Finally the only car left in the driveway was the long black Cadillac with Freddie at the wheel。 The Don got into the front seat； moving with quick coordination for his age and bulk。 Sonny； Michael and Johnny Fontane got into the back seat。 Don Corleone said to his son Michael； 〃Your girl friend； she'll get back to the city by herself all right？〃
Michael nodded。 〃Tom said he'd take care of it。〃 Don Corleone nodded with satisfaction at Hagen's efficiency。
Because of the gas rationing still in effect； there was little traffic on the Belt Parkway to Manhattan。 In less than an hour the Cadillac rolled into the street of French Hospital。 During the ride Don Corleone asked his youngest son if he was doing well in school。 Michael nodded。 Then Sonny in the back seat asked his father； 〃Johnny says you're getting him squared away with that Hollywood business。 Do you want me to go out there and help？〃
Don Corleone was curt。 〃Tom is going tonight。 He won't need any help； it's a simple affair。〃
Sonny Corleone laughed。 〃Johnny thinks you can't fix it； that's why I thought you might want me to go out there。〃
Don Corleone turned his head。 〃Why do you doubt me？〃