Английский язык с Крестным Отцом
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231
reconsidered his case on the basis of new information and affidavits submitted by high
police officials. His sentence was suspended and he was released.
Albert Neri was no fool and his father-in-law no shrinking violet. Neri learned what had
happened and paid his debt to his father-in-law by agreeing to get a divorce from Rita.
Then he made a trip out to Long Beach to thank his benefactor. Arrangements had
been made beforehand, of course. Michael received him in his library.
Neri stated his thanks in formal tones and was surprised and gratified by the warmth
with which Michael received his thanks.
"Hell, I couldn't let them do that to a fellow Sicilian," Michael said. "They should have
given you a goddamn medal. But those damn politicians don't give a shit about anything
except pressure groups. Listen, I would never have stepped into the picture if I hadn't
checked everything out and saw what a raw deal you got. One of my people talked to
your sister and she told us how you were always worried about her and her kid, how
you straightened the kid out, kept him from going bad. Your father-in-law says you're
the finest fellow in the world. That's rare." Tactfully Michael did not mention anything
about Neri's wife having left him.
They chatted for a while. Neri had always been a taciturn man, but he found himself
opening up to Michael Corleone. Michael was only about five years his senior, but Neri
spoke to him as if he were much older, older enough to be his father.
Finally Michael said, "There's no sense getting you out of jail and then just leaving you
high and dry. I can arrange some work for you. I have interests out in Las Vegas, with
your experience you could be a hotel security man. Or if there's some little business
you'd like to go into, I can put a word in with the banks to advance you a loan for
capital."
Neri was overcome with grateful embarrassment. He proudly refused and then added,
"I have to stay under the jurisdiction of the court anyway with the suspended sentence."
Michael said briskly, "That's all crap detail, I can fix that. Forget about that supervision
and just so the banks won't get choosy I'll have your yellow sheet pulled."
The yellow sheet was a police record of criminal offenses committed by any individual.
It was usually submitted to a judge when he was considering what sentence to give a
convicted criminal. Neri had been long enough on the police force to know that many
hoodlums going up for sentencing had been treated leniently by the judge because a
clean yellow sheet had been submitted by the bribed Police Records Department. So he
was not too surprised that Michael Corleone could do such a thing; he was, however,
surprised that such trouble would be taken on his account.
"If I need help, I'll get in touch," Neri said.
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"Good, good," Michael said. He looked at his watch and Neri took this for his dismissal.
He rose to go. Again he was surprised.
"Lunchtime," Michael said. "Come on and eat with me and my family. My father said
he'd like to meet you. We'll walk over to his house. My mother should have some fried
peppers and eggs and sausages. Real Sicilian style."
That afternoon was the most agreeable Albert Neri had spent since he was a small
boy, since the days before his parents had died when he was only fifteen. Don Corleone
was at his most amiable and was delighted when he discovered that Neri's parents had
originally come from a small village only a few minutes from his own. The talk was good,
the food was delicious, the wine robustly red. Neri was struck by the thought that he
was finally with his own true people. He understood that he was only a casual guest but
he knew he could find a permanent place and be happy in such a world.
Michael and the Don walked him out to his car. The Don shook his hand and said.
"You're a fine fellow. My son Michael here, I've been teachinig him the olive business,
I'm getting old, I want to retire, And he comes to me and he says he wants to interfere in
your little affair. I tell him to just learn about the olive oil. But he won't leave me alone.
He says, here is this fine fellow, a Sicilian and they are doing this dirty trick to him. He
kept on, he gave me no peace until I interested myself it it. I tell you this to tell you that
he was right. Now that I've met you, I'm glad we took the trouble. So if we can do
anything further for you, just ask the favor. Understand? We're at your service."
(Remembering the Don's kindness, Neri wished the great man was still alive to see the
service that would be done this day.)
It took Neri less than three days to make up his mind. He understood he was being
courted but understood more. That the Corleone Family approved that act of his which
society condemned and had punished him for, The Corleone Family valued him, society
did not. He understood that he would be happier in the world the Corleones had created