mg.dictatorofcrime-第13部分

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ng　by　its　writhe；　so　were　Castenago's　features。
　　The　dictator　was　heavy…set；　with　a　short　neck　that　made　his　head　look　as　if　planted　between　his　shoulders。　His　face　was　wide；　which　added　to　the　spread　of　his　black…smudged　eyebrows。　In　turn；　those　smudges　accentuated　the　fierce　eyes　beneath；　that　could　glitter；　or　dull；　whichever　their　owner　chose。
　　Castenago's　nose　was　wide；　an　appendage　to　his　broad　forehead。　Such　a　nose；　which　had　no　bridge　between　the　eyes；　would　have　appeared　a　deformity　on　any　other　face；　but　it　fitted　Castenago's。
　　The　width　of　his　forehead；　matched　by　the　huge　sweep　of　his　jaw；　demanded　a　central　feature；　and　the　nose　supplied　it。　As　for　Castenago's　mouth；　it；　too；　looked　normal　against　the　broad　area　of　his　total　physiognomy。　The　coarseness　of　his　thick　lips　was　scarcely　noticeable；　for　it　offered　no　great　contrast　to　his　general　appearance。
　　Castenago　had　the　stern　look　of　an　Indian　whose　ancestors　had　roved　the　mountains　long　before　the　ing　of　the　conquerors；　but　the　Spaniards；　in　their　turn；　had　contributed　to　his　heritage。
　　There　were　probably　other　races　mingled　in　his　blood；　and　together　they　had　produced…Luis　Castenago。　His　nationality　very　definitely　could　be　called　his　own；　whatever　it　was。
　　This　human　snake；　like　bona　fide　members　of　the　reptile　family；　possessed　a　power　of　attraction。　His　polite　bow；　his　weling　gestures；　were　sinuous。
　　When　he　spoke；　there　was　a　veiled　hiss　to　his　tone　that　the　courtesy　of　his　words；　spoken　in　English；　could　not　hide。
　　The　relief　was　the　fact　that　Castenago　turned　his　attention　from　one　member　of　the　visiting　group　to　another；　often　enough　to　ease　the　tension　that　each　individual　felt。
　　There　was　just　one　exception　to　the　last…named　rule：　Kent　Allard。　Margo　was　noting　that　Castenago　did　not　daunt　the　aviator　at　all；　when　a　major…domo　dressed　in　colorful　livery；　announced　in　Spanish　that　dinner　was　served；　or　something　to　that　effect。　Therewith；　Castenago　bowed　his　guests　into　the　banquet　hall。
　　The　dinner　was　served；　with　all　ten　courses；　no　more。　The　guests　felt　much　at　ease　when　Castenago　arose；　signifying　that　the　meal　was　ended。　He　was　lifting　a　wine　glass；　ready　to　propose　a　toast；　when　he　saw　Allard　at　his　right。　Poising　his　glass；　Castenago　purred　politely：
　　〃Your　privilege；　Senor　Allard。〃
　　〃I　propose　a　toast；〃　spoke　Allard　stolidly；　〃to　Centralba's　esteemed　citizen；　and　former　president；　Professor　Francisco　Peridor。〃
　　If　a　time　bomb　had　dropped　through　the　palace　roof；　to　lie　upon　the　banquet　table；　waiting　to　explode；　the　silence　of　the　startled　guests　could　not　have　been　greater。　The　night　was　warm；　but　they　stood　frozen；　until；　to　their　amazement；　Castenago　raised　his　glass　to　his　lips　in　acknowledgment　of　Allard's　toast。
　　It　was　the　signal　for　all　to　do　the　same；　and　when　the　toast　was　drunk；　it　was　Castenago　who　again　set　the　example；　by　smashing　his　glass　upon　the　floor。
　　There　were　echoing　tinkles　as　other　glasses　fell；　rather　than　were　tossed；　from　numbed　hands。
　　Only　Allard's　glass　remained　intact。　He　calmly　replaced　it　on　the　table；　while　Castenago　glared；　only　to　temper　that　expression　with　a　shrug。
　　
　　
　　〃I　REGRET；　indeed；〃　spoke　Castenago；　〃that　Professor　Peridor　could　not　be　with　us　this　evening。　Since　you　esteem　him　so　highly；　Senor　Allard；　I　assume　that　you　would　like　to　meet　him。〃
　　〃It　would　be　a　privilege；　your　excellency。〃
　　〃It　may　then　be　arranged；〃　declared　Castenago。　〃Until　then；　senor；　it　would　be　quite　unwise　to　call　upon　Professor　Peridor　without　invitation。　Due　to　an　unfortunate　misunderstanding〃…by　now；　Castenago　was　addressing　all　the　guests…〃Professor　Peridor　has　retired　temporarily　from　public　life。
　　〃He　was　mistakenly　linked　with　the　faction　headed　by　Jose　Durez；　a　very　unpopular　group。　It　has　therefore　been　necessary　to　provide　Professor　Peridor　with　military　protection。〃
　　Castenago　finished　by　bowing　his　guests　from　the　banquet　room。　His　manner　was　so　abrupt　that　Margo　sensed　what　lay　behind　it。　Castenago　had　recognized　a　challenge　from　Allard；　and　was　ready　for　the　duel。
　　What　that　battle　of　courtesy　and　wits　would　produce；　events　would　soon　tell。　Certainly；　however；　matters　could　not　long　remain　in　a　preliminary　stage。
　　There　was　nothing　humorous　in　the　thought　that　sprang　to　Margo's　mind；　indeed；　she　was　considering　it　as　something　very　serious。
　　Margo　was　thinking　that　Luis　Castenago　might　classify　Kent　Allard　as　a　special　type　of　guest；　despite　the　fact　that　the　banquet　had　been　two　courses　short！
　　
　　
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　　To　others；　it　might　have　seemed　that　Luis　Castenago　still　considered　it　important　to　entertain　his　guests；　but　Margo　deemed　otherwise。　She　was　certain…too　certain…that　the　dictator　was　trying　to　get　rid　of　them；　when　they　returned　to　the　reception　room。
　　Of　course；　Castenago　had　an　excuse；　and　a　good　one；　that　he　put　quite　blandly。
　　〃You　must　see　the　casino；〃　he　assured　them。　〃It　is　one　of　the　sights　of　Libertad：　an　effort　to　produce　international　friendship；　because；　if　ever　all　men　are　brothers；　it　is　at　the　gaming　table。　This　is　the　most　popular　hour　at　the　casino；　so　I　shall　arrange　an　escort　to　take　you　there　without　delay。〃
　　Castenago　bowed　himself　through　a　curtained　doorway；　which　happened　to　be　close　to　the　chair　that　Margo　had　taken。　Turning　slightly；　Margo　caught　a　view　of　the　edge　of　the　doorway　and　saw　the　man　that　Castenago　met　beyond。
　　He　was　a　hard…faced　man；　in　a　captain's　uniform；　evidently　the　successor　of　Colin　Nayre　as　mander　of　the　palace　guards。
　　Margo　was　just　near　enough　to　overhear　the　words　that　passed　between　them。
　　〃This　Allard　may　mean　trouble；〃　said　Castenago。　〃I　shall　order　a　search　of　his　room　at　the　hotel；　and　double　the　guards　at　Peridor's。〃
　　〃Shall　I　attend　to　those　details；　excellency？〃　the　captain　inquired。
　　〃No。　You　have　a　different　duty；〃　Castenago　told　him。　〃You　are　to　escort　Allard　and　his　friends　to　the　casino…〃
　　〃And　watch　them　while　they　are　there…〃
　　〃No；　no；　captain。　Again；　you　are　wrong。　You　will　return　here。　Others　will　watch　Allard　while　he　is　at　the　casino。〃
　　Margo　was　turned　away　when　Castenago　came　from　the　curtained　doorway；　acpanied　by　the　hard…faced　captain。　She　couldn't　tell　whether　Castenago　was　eyeing　her；　so　she　decided　not　to　speak　to　Allard　until　they　were　in　their　car。
　　Unfortunately；　the　captain　took　it　upon　himself　to　assign　the　guests　to　their　places　in　the　automobiles。　Margo　and　Allard　were　placed　in　different　cars。
　　They　rode　to　the　casino　by　a　roundabout　route；　which　convinced　Margo　that　the　captain　was　taking　time　while　Castenago　arranged　the　hotel　search　and　the　doubling　of　the　guards　at　Peridor's。　They　passed　Peridor's　residence　on　the　way；　and　so　far　as　Margo　could　observe；　the　soldiers　numbered　no　more　than　they　had　earlier。
　　Again；　Margo　saw　the　marimba　player；　who　by　this　time　had　gathered　quite　a　crowd　about　him。　The　citizens　of　Libertad　certainly　enjoyed　night　life　when　entertainment　was　free。
　　As　for　visitors；　they　were　ready　to　pay　for　their　entertainment。　That　was　evident　when　the　cars　reached　the　casino。　The　place　was　well　thronged；　and　Allard's　friends　caught　the　fever。　They　all　wanted　to　play　roulette；　Margo　included；　because　she　believed　she　would　thus　gain　a　chance　to　speak　to　Allard。
　　She　did；　after　the　captain　had　introduced　them　all　to　Pierre　Treban；　the　dapper　Frenchman　who　operated　the　casino。　Finding　a　place　beside　Allard；　Margo　spoke　in　an　undertone　that　was　covered　by　the　rattle　of　chips　about　them。
　　〃Be　careful　when　the　captain　leaves；〃　said　Margo。　〃Others　will　be　watching　you。〃
　　Allard　lifted　his　eyebrows　slightly；　indicating　that　he　wanted　to　hear　more。
　　〃Castenago　is　ordering　a　search　of　your　room；〃　Margo　added。　〃He　is　also　doubling　the　guard　at　Peridor's；　in　case　you　should　try　to　visit　there。〃
　　Allard's　face　was　so　immobile　that　Margo　doubted　if　he　believed　her。　She　explained　how　she　had　overheard　the　conversation　between　Castenago　and　the　captain。
　　With　a　slight　nod　that　certified　Margo's　statements；　Allard　lifted　a　few　chips　and　placed　them　on　the　board。　Margo　did　the　same。　It　was　good　busin