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nk narcotics is the ing thing。 I think we have to have a piece of that action or we risk everything we have。 Not now； but maybe ten years from now。〃
The Don seemed enormously impressed。 He puffed on his cigar and murmured； 〃That's the most important thing of course。〃 He sighed and got to his feet。 〃What time do I have to meet this infidel tomorrow？〃
Hagen said hopefully； 〃He'll be here at ten in the morning。〃 Maybe the Don would go for it。
〃I'll want you both here with me；〃 the Don said。 He rose； stretching； and took his son by the arm。 〃Santino； get some sleep tonight； you look like the devil himself。 Take care of yourself； you won't be young forever。〃
Sonny； encouraged by this sign of fatherly concern； asked the question Hagen did not dare to ask。 〃Pop； what's your answer going to be？〃
Don Corleone smiled。 〃How do I know until I hear the percentages and other details？ Besides I have to have time to think over the advice given here tonight。 After all； I'm not a man who does things rashly。〃 As he went out the door he said casually to Hagen； 〃Do you have in your notes that the Turk made his living from prostitution before the war？ As the Tattaglia family does now。 Write that down before you forget。〃 There was just a touch of derision in the Don's voice and Hagen flushed。 He had deliberately not mentioned it； legitimately so since it really had no bearing； but he had feared it might prejudice the Don's decision。 He was notoriously straitlaced in matters of sex。
**********
Virgil 〃the Turk〃 Sollozzo was a powerfully built； medium…sized man of dark plexion who could have been taken for a true Turk。 He had a scimitar of a nose and cruel black eyes。 He also had an impressive dignity。
Sonny Corleone met him at the door and brought him into the office where Hagen and the Don waited。 Hagen thought he had never seen a more dangerous…looking man except for Luca Brasi。
There were polite handshakings all around。 If the Don ever asks me if this man has balls； I would have to answer yes； Hagen thought。 He had never seen such force in one man； not even the Don。 In fact the Don appeared at his worst。 He was being a little too simple； a little too peasantlike in his greeting。
Sollozzo came to the point immediately。 The business was narcotic。 Everything was set up。 Certain poppy fields in Turkey had pledged him certain amounts every year。 He had a protected plant in France to convert into morphine。 He had an absolutely secure plant in Sicily to process into heroin。 Smuggling into both countries was as positively safe as such matters could be。 Entry into the United States would entail about five percent losses since the FBI itself was incorruptible； as they both knew。 But the profits would be enormous； the risk nonexistent。
〃Then why do you e to me？〃 the Don asked politely。 〃How have I deserved your generosity？〃
Sollozzo's dark face remained impassive。 〃I need two million dollars cash；〃 he said。 〃Equally important； I need a man who has powerful friends in the important places。 Some of my couriers will be caught over the years。 That is inevitable。 They will all have clean records； that I promise。 So it will be logical for judges to give light sentences。 I need a friend who can guarantee that when my people get in trouble they won't spend more than a year or two in jail。 Then they won't talk。 But if they get ten and twenty years； who knows？ In this world there are many weak individuals。 They may talk； they may jeopardize more important people。 Legal protection is a must。 I hear； Don Corleone； that you have as many judges in your pocket as a bootblack has pieces of silver。〃
Don Corleone didn't bother to acknowledge the pliment。 〃What percentage for my family？〃 he asked。
Sollozzo's eyes gleamed。 〃Fifty percent。〃 He paused and then said in a voice that was almost a caress； 〃In the first year your share would be three or four million dollars。 Then it would go up。〃
Don Corleone said； 〃And what is the percentage of the Tattaglia family？〃
For the first time Sollozzo seemed to be nervous。 〃They will receive something from my share。 I need some help in the operations。〃
〃So；〃 Don Corleone said； 〃I receive fifty percent merely for finance and legal protection。 I have no worries about operations； is that what you tell me？〃
Sollozzo nodded。 〃If you think two million dollars in cash is 'merely finance；' I congratulate you； Don Corleone。〃
The Don said quietly； 〃I consented to see you out of my respect for the Tattaglias and because I've heard you are a serious man to be treated also with respect。 I must say no to you but I must give you my reasons。 The profits in your business are huge but so are the risks。 Your operation； if I were part of it； could damage my other interests。 It's true I have many； many friends in politics； but they would not be so friendly if my business were narcotics instead of gambling。 They think gambling is something like liquor； a harmless vice； and they think narcotics a dirty business。 No； don't protest。 I'm telling you their thoughts； not mine。 How a man makes his living is not my concern。 And what I am telling you is that this business of yours is too risky。 All the members of my family have lived well the last ten years； without danger； without harm。 I can't endanger them or their livelihoods out of greed。〃
The only sign of Sollozzo's disappointment was a quick flickering of his eyes around the room； as if he hoped Hagen or Sonny would speak in his support。 Then he said； 〃Are you worried about security for your two million？〃
The Don smiled coldly。 〃No；〃 he said。
Sollozzo tried again。 〃The Tattaglia family will guarantee your investment also。〃
It was then that Sonny Corleone made an unforgivable error in judgment and procedure。 He said eagerly； 〃The Tattaglia family guarantees the return of our investment without any percentage from us？〃
Hagen was horrified at this break。 He saw the Don turn cold； malevolent eyes on his eldest son； who froze in unprehending dismay。 Sollozzo's eyes flickered again but this time with satisfaction。 He had discovered a chink in the Don's fortress。 When the Don spoke his voice held a dismissal。 〃Young people are greedy；〃 he said。 〃And today they have no manners。 They interrupt their elders。 They meddle。 But I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I have spoiled them。 As you see。 Signor Sollozzo； my no is final。 Let me say that I myself wish you good fortune in your business。 It has no conflict with my own。 I'm sorry that I had to disappoint you。〃
Sollozzo bowed； shook the Don's hand and let Hagen take him to his car outside。 There was no expression on his face when he said good…bye to Hagen。
Back in the room； Don Corleone asked Hagen； 〃What did you think of that man？〃
〃He's a Sicilian；〃 Hagen said dryly。
The Don nodded his head thoughtfully。 Then he turned to his son and said gently； 〃Santino； never let anyone outside the family know what you are thinking。 Never let them know what you have under your fingernails。 I think your brain is going soft from all that edy you play with that young girl。 Stop it and pa