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When the Don answered； his voice was cold； without fort。 〃You blaspheme。 Resign yourself。〃
Abbandando fell back on the pillow。 His eyes lost their wild gleam of hope。 The nurse came back into the room and started shooing them out in a very matter…of…fact way。 The Don got up but Abbandando put out his hand。 〃Godfather；〃 he said； 〃stay here with me and help me meet death。 Perhaps if He sees you near me He will be frightened and leave me in peace。 Or perhaps you can say a word； pull a few strings； eh？〃 The dying man winked as if he were mocking the Don； now not really serious。 〃You're brothers in blood； after all。〃 Then； as if fearing the Don would be offended； he clutched at his hand。 〃Stay with me； let me hold your hand。 We'll outwit that bastard as we've outwitted others。 Godfather； don't betray me。〃
The Don motioned the other people out of the room。 They left。 He took the withered claw of Genco Abbandando in his own two broad hands。 Softly； reassuringly； he forted his friend； as they waited for death together。 As if the Don could truly snatch the life of Gencp Abbandando back from that most foul and criminal traitor to man。
**********
The wedding day of Connie Corleone ended well for her。 Carlo Rizzi performed his duties as a bridegroom with skill and vigor； spurred on by the contents of the bride's gift purse which totaled up to over twenty thousand dollars。 The bride； however； gave up her virginity with a great deal more willingness than she gave up her purse。 For the latter； he had to blacken one of her eyes。
Lucy Mancini waited in her house for a call from Sonny Corleone； sure that he would ask her for a date。 Finally she called his house and when she heard a woman's voice answer the phone she hung up。 She had no way of knowing that nearly everyone at the wedding had remarked the absence of her and Sonny for that fatal half hour and the gossip was already spreading that Santino Corleone had found another victim。 That he had 〃done the job〃 on his own sister's maid of honor。
Amerigo Bonasera had a terrible nightmare。 In his dreams he saw Don Corleone； in peaked cap； overalls and heavy gloves； unloading bullet…riddled corpses in front of his funeral parlor and shouting； 〃Remember； Amerigo； not a word to anyone； and bury them quickly。〃 He groaned so loud and long in his sleep that his wife shook him awake。 〃Eh； what a man you are；〃 she grumbled。 〃To have a nightmare only after a wedding。〃
Kay Adams was escorted to her New York City hotel by Paulie Gatto and Clemenza。 The car was large； luxurious and driven by Gatto。 Clemenza sat in the back seat and Kay was given the front seat next to the driver。 She found both men wildly exotic。 Their speech was movie Brooklynese and they treated her with exaggerated courtliness。 During the ride she chatted casually with both men and was surprised when they spoke of Michael with unmistakable affection and respect。 He had led her to believe that he was an alien in his father's world。 Now Clemenza was assuring her in his wheezing guttural voice that the 〃old man〃 thought Mike was the best of his sons； the one who would surely inherit the family business。
〃What business is that？〃 Kay asked in the most natural way。
Paulie Gatto gave her a quick glance as he turned the wheel。 Behind her Clemenza said in a surprised voice。 〃Didn't Mike tell you？ Mr。 Corleone is the biggest importer of Italian olive oil in the States。 Now that the war is over the business could get real rich。 He'll need a smart boy like Mike。〃
At the hotel Clemenza insisted on ing to the desk with her。 When she protested； he said simply； 〃The boss said to make sure you got home OK。 I gotta do it。〃
After she received her room key he walked her to the elevator and waited until she got in。 She waved to him； smiling； and was surprised at his genuine smile of pleasure in return。 It was just as well she did not see him go back to the hotel clerk and ask； 〃What name she registered under？〃
The hotel clerk looked at Clemenza coldly。 Clemenza rolled the little green spitball he was holding in his hand across to the clerk； who picked it up and immediately said； 〃Mr。 and Mrs。 Michael Corleone。〃
Back in the car； Paulie Gatto said； 〃Nice dame。〃
Clemenza grunted。 〃Mike is doing the job on her。〃 Unless； he thought； they were really married。 〃Pick me up early in the morning；〃 he told Paulie Gatto。 〃Hagen got some deal for us that gotta be done right away。〃
**********
It was late Sunday night before Tom Hagen could kiss his wife good…bye and drive out to the airport。 With his special number one priority （a grateful gift from a Pentagon staff general officer） he had no trouble getting on a plane to Los Angeles。
It had been a busy but satisfying day for Tom Hagen。 Genco Abbandando had died at three in the morning and when Don Corleone returned from the hospital； he had informed Hagen that he was now officially the new Consigliere to the family。 This meant that Hagen was sure to bee a very rich man； to say nothing of power。
The Don had broken a long…standing tradition。 The Consigliere was always a full…blooded Sicilian； and the fact that Hagen had been brought up as a member of the Don's family made no difference to that tradition。 It was a question of blood。 Only a Sicilian born to the ways of ormerta； the law of silence； could be trusted in the key post of Consigliere。 Between the head of the family； Don Corleone； who dictated policy； and the operating level of men who actually carried out the orders of the Don； there were three layers； or buffers。 In that way nothing could be traced to the top。 Unless the Consigliere turned traitor。 That Sunday morning Don Corleone gave explicit instructions on what should be done to the two young men who had beaten the daughter of Amerigo Bonasera。 But he had given those orders in private to Tom Hagen。 Later in the day Hagen had； also in private without witnesses； instructed Clemenza。 In turn Clemenza had told Paulie Gatto to execute the mission。 Paulie Gatto would now muster the necessary manpower and execute the orders。 Paulie Gatto and his men would not know why this particular task was being carried out or who had ordered it originally。 Each link of the chain would have to turn traitor for the Don to be involved and though it had never yet happened； there was always the possibility。 The cure for that possibility also was known。 Only one link in the chain had to disappear。
The Consigliere was also what his name implied。 He was the counselor to the Don； his right…hand man； his auxiliary brain。 He was also his closest panion and his closest friend。 On important trips he would drive the Don's car； at conferences he would go out and get the Don refreshments； coffee and sandwiches； fresh cigars。 He would know everything the Don knew or nearly everything； all the cells of power。 He was the one man in the world who could bring the Don crashing down to destruction。 But no Consigliere had ever betrayed a Don； not in the memory of any of the powerful Sicilian families who had established themselves in America。 There was no future in it。 And every Consigliere knew that if he kept the faith