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ami Beach and Cuba。 After the Corleone Family； his was perhaps the strongest in New York and therefore in the country。 His influence reached even to Sicily。 His hand was in every unlawful pie。 He was even rumored to have a toehold in Wall Street。 He had supported the Tattaglia Family with money and influence since the start of the war。 It was his ambition to supplant Don Corleone as the most powerful and respected Mafia leader in the country and to take over part of the Corleone empire。 He was a man much like Don Corleone； but more modern； more sophisticated； more businesslike。 He could never be called an old Moustache Pete and he had the confidence of the newer； younger； brasher leaders on their way up。 He was a man of great personal force in a cold way； with none of Don Corleone's warmth and he was perhaps at this moment the most 〃respected〃 man in the group。
The last to arrive was Don Phillip Tattaglia； the head of the Tattagfia Family that had directly challenged the Corleone power by supporting Sollozzo； and had so nearly succeeded。 And yet curiously enough he was held in a slight contempt by the others。 For one thing； it was known that he had allowed himself to be dominated by Sollozzo； had in fact been led by the nose by that fine Turkish hand。 He was held responsible for all this motion； this uproar that had so affected the conduct of everyday business by the New York Families。 Also he was a sixty…year…old dandy and woman…chaser。 And he had ample opportunity to indulge his weakness。
For the Tattaglia Family dealt in women。 Its main business was prostitution。 It also controlled most of the nightclubs in the United States and could place any talent anywhere in the country。 Phillip Tattaglia was not above using strong…arm to get control of promising singers and ics and muscling in on record firms。 But prostitution was the main source of the Family ine。
His personality was unpleasant to these men。 He was a whiner； always plaining of the costs in his Family business。 Laundry bills； all those towels； ate up the profits （but he owned the laundry firm that did the work）。 The girls were lazy and unstable； running off； mitting suicide。 The pimps were treacherous and dishonest and without a shred of loyalty。 Good help was hard to find。 Young lads of Sicilian blood turned up their noses at such work； considered it beneath their honor to traffic and abuse women； those rascals who would slit a throat with a song on their lips and the cross of an Easter palm in the lapel of their jackets。 So Phillip Tattaglia would rant on to audiences unsympathetic and contemptuous。 His biggest howl was reserved for authorities who had it in their power to issue and cancel liquor licenses for his nightclubs and cabarets。 He swore he had made more millionaires than Wall Street with the money he had paid those thieving guardians of official seals。
In a curious way his almost victorious war against the Corleone Family had not won him the respect it deserved。 They knew his strength had e first from Sollozzo and then from the Barzini Family。 Also the fact that with the advantage of surprise he had not won plete victory was evidence against him。 If he had been more efficient； all this trouble could have been avoided。 The death of Don Corleone would have meant the end of the war。
It was proper； since they had both lost sons in their war against each other； that Don Corleone and Phillip Tattaglia should acknowledge each other's presence only with a formal nod。 Don Corleone was the object of attention； the other men studying him to see what mark of weakness had been left on him by his wounds and defeats。 The puzzling factor was why Don Corleone had sued for peace after the death of his favorite son。 It was an acknowledgment of defeat and would almost surely lead to a lessening of his power。 But they would soon know。
There were greetings； there were drinks to be served and almost another half hour went by before Don Corleone took his seat at the polished walnut table。 Unobtrusively； Hagen sat in the chair slightly to the Don's left and behind him。 This was the signal for the other Dons to make their way to the table。 Their aides sat behind them； the Consiglieres up close so that they could offer any advice when needed。
Don Corleone was the first to speak and he spoke as if nothing had happened。 As if he had not been grievously wounded and his eldest son slain； his empire in a shambles； his personal family scattered； Freddie in the West and under the protection of the Molinari Family and Michael secreted in the wastelands of Sicily。 He spoke naturally； in Sicilian dialect。
〃I want to thank you all for ing；〃 he said。 〃I consider it a service done to me personally and I am in the debt of each and every one of you。 And so I will say at the beginning that I am here not to quarrel or convince； but only to reason and as a reasonable man do everything possible for us all to part friends here too。 I give my word on that； and some of you who know me well know I do not give my word lightly。 Ah； well； let's get down to business。。 We are all honorable men here； we don't have to give each other assurances as if we were lawyers。〃
He paused。 None of the others spoke。 Some were smoking cigars； others sipping their drinks。 All of these men were good listeners； patient men。 They had one other thing in mon。 They were those rarities； men who had refused to accept the rule of organized society； men who refused the dominion of other men。 There was no force； no mortal man who could bend them to their will unless they wished it。 They were men who guarded their free will with wiles and murder。 Their wills could be subverted only by death。 Or the utmost reasonableness。
Don Corleone sighed。 〃How did things ever go so far？〃 he asked rhetorically。 〃Well； no matter。 A lot of foolishness has e to pass。 It was so unfortunate； so unnecessary。 But let me tell what happened； as I see it。〃
He paused to see if someone would object to his telling his side of the story。
〃Thank God my health has been restored and maybe I can help set this affair aright。 Perhaps my son was too rash； too headstrong； I don't say no to that。 Anyway let me just say that Sollozzo came to me with a business affair in which he asked me for my money and my influence。 He said he had the interest of the Tattaglia Family。 The affair involved drugs； in which I have no interest。 I'm a quiet man and such endeavors are too lively for my taste。 I explained this to Sollozzo； with all respect for him and the Tattaglia Family。 I gave him my 'no' with all courtesy。 I told him his business would not interfere with mine； that I had no objection to his earning his living in this fashion。 He took it ill and brought misfortune down on all our heads。 Well； that's life。 Everyone here could tell his own tale of sorrow。 That's not to my purpose。〃
Don Corleone paused and motioned to Hagen for a cold drink； which Hagen swiftly furnished him。 Don Corleone wet his mouth。 〃I'm willing to make the peace；〃 he said。 〃Tattaglia has lost a son； I have lost a son。 We are quits。 What would the world e to if people kept carrying grudges against all reason？ That has been the cross of Sicily； where men are so busy with vendettas they have no time to earn bread for their families。 It's foolishness。 So I say now； let things be as they were before。 I have not taken any steps to learn who betrayed and killed my son。 Given peace； I will not do so。 I have a son who cannot e home and I must receive assurances that when I arrange matters so that he can return safely that there will be no interference； no danger from the authorities。 Once that's settled maybe we can talk about other matters that interest us and do ourselves； all of us； a profitable service today。〃 Corleone gestured expressively； submissively； with his hands。 〃That is all I want。〃
It was very well done。 It was the Don Corleone of old。 Reasonable。 Pliant。 Soft…spoken。 But every man there had noted that he had claimed good health； which meant he was a man not to be held cheaply despite the misfortunes of the Corleone Family。 It was noted that he had said the discussion of other business was useless until the peace he