Английский язык с Крестным Отцом
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(от презирающих их властей). But the men of Don Corleone walked the streets with
their heads held high, their pockets stuffed with silver and paper money. With no fear of
losing their jobs. And even Don Corleone, that most modest of men, could not help
feeling a sense of pride. He was taking care of his world, his people. He had not failed
those who depended on him and gave him the sweat of their brows, risked their
freedom and their lives in his service. And when an employee of his was arrested and
sent to prison by some mischance, that unfortunate man's family received a living
allowance (пожизненное
begrudge – скупиться) pittance (скудное вспомоществование, жалование) but the
same amount the man earned when free.
This of course was not pure Christian charity. Not his best friends would have called
Don Corleone a saint from heaven. There was some self-interest in this generosity. An
employee sent to prison knew he had only to keep his mouth shut and his wife and
children would be cared for. He knew that if he did not inform to the police a warm
welcome would be his when he left prison. There would be a party waiting in his home,
the best of food, homemade ravioli, wine, pastries, with all his friends and relatives
gathered to rejoice in his freedom. And sometime during the night the Consigliori,
Genco Abbandando, or perhaps even the Don himself, would drop by to pay his
respects to such a stalwart (стойкий приверженец, верный последователь ['sto:wt]),
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take a glass of wine in his honor, and leave a handsome present of money so that he
could enjoy a week or two of leisure with his family before returning to his daily toil
(тяжелый труд). Such was the infinite sympathy and understanding of Don Corleone.
It was at this time that the Don got the idea that he ran his world far better than his
enemies ran the greater world which continually obstructed his path. And this feeling
was nurtured by the poor people of the neighborhood who constantly came to him for
help. To get on the home relief (облегчение; освобождение /от уплаты/), to get a
young boy a job or out of jail, to borrow a small sum of money desperately needed, to
intervene with landlords who against all reason demanded rent from jobless tenants.
55
Don Vito Corleone helped them all. Not only that, he helped them with goodwill, with
encouraging words to take the bitter sting out of the charity he gave them. It was only
natural then that when these Italians were puzzled and confused on who to vote for to
represent them in the state legislature, in the city offices, in the Congress, they should
ask the advice of their friend Don Corleone, their Godfather. And so he became a
political power to be consulted by practical party chiefs. He consolidated this power with
a far-seeing statesmanlike intelligence; by helping brilliant boys from poor Italian
farnilies through college, boys who would later become lawyers, assistant district
attorneys, and even judges. He planned for the future of his empire with all the foresight
of a great national leader.
The repeal (отмена) of Prohibition dealt this empire a crippling blow but again he had
taken his precautions. In 1933 he sent emissaries to the man who controlled all the
gambling activities of Manhattan, the crap games on the docks, the shylocking that went
with it as hot dogs go with baseball games, the bookmaking on sports and horses, the
illicit gambling houses that ran poker games, the policy or numbers racket of Harlem.
This man's name was Salvatore Maranzano and he was one of the acknowledged
pezzonovante, .90 calibers, or big shots of the New York underworld. The Corleone
emissaries proposed to Maranzano an equal partnership beneficial to both parties. Vito
Corleone with his organization, his police and political contacts, could give the
Maranzano operations a stout umbrella and the new strength to expand into Brooklyn
and the Bronx. But Maranzano was a short-sighted man and spurned (to spurn –
отвергать
Maranzano's friend and he had his own organization, his own men, plus a huge war
chest (ящик; казна). He would not brook (терпеть, выносить) this upstart (выскочка)
whose reputation was more that of a Parliamentary debator than a true Mafioso.
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Maranzano's refusal touched off (его отказ вызвал, привел к) the great war of 1933
which was to change the whole structure of the underworld in New York City.
At first glance it seemed an uneven match. Salvatore Maranzano had a powerful
organization with strong enforcers. He had a friendship with Capone in Chicago and