mg.dictatorofcrime-第20部分

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　　The　guests　at　the　Imperial　Hotel　heard　some　of　the　queer　rumors；　but　only　Margo　Lane　took　them　seriously。　She　knew　that　〃La　Sombra〃　meant　The　Shadow；　and　she　asked　Kent　Allard　what　he　thought　about　it。
　　His　attitude　was　one　of　plete　indifference。　He　had　other　matters　to　worry　about；　so　he　said；　though　he　didn't　specify　what　they　were。
　　Margo　dropped　the　hint　that　Lamont　Cranston　might　be　in　Centralba；　but　Allard　only　shook　his　head。　He　was　quite　sure　that　Cranston　would　have　joined　the　party；　had　he　arrived　in　Libertad。　There；　the　subject　rested。
　　Early　in　the　afternoon；　Margo　had　an　inkling　of　what　troubled　Allard。　An　imposing　car　stopped　in　front　of　the　hotel　and　two　palace　guards　came　inside。
　　When　they　went　out；　Allard　was　with　them。　Obviously；　be　had　been　summoned　by　Castenago。
　　Margo　decided　that　it　must　have　something　to　do　with　the　continuation　of　the　air　cruise。　Perhaps　Castenago　didn't　like　strangers　dropping　in　from　the　sky；　unannounced。
　　
　　
　　WHEN　The　Shadow　reached　the　presidential　palace；　he　was　conducted　farther　than　the　reception　room；　which　pleased　him；　because　it　offered　him　a　chance　to　check；　firsthand；　on　information　supplied　by　Peridor。
　　Everything　tallied　perfectly；　even　the　dimensions　of　the　various　apartments　which　The　Shadow　saw。　When　he　was　conducted　along　a　side　passage　in　an　extensive　wing；　he　knew　where　they　were　taking　him。　Peridor　had　specially　mentioned　this　passage。　It　led　to　an　elevator　that　went　up　to　Castenago's　private　council　chamber。
　　The　elevator　was　of　the　self…operating　type。　The　man　who　guided　Allard　pressed　a　button　and　the　car　came　down；　with　absolute　silence。　Bowed　into　the　elevator；　Allard　found　himself　alone；　but　he　didn't　have　to　press　a　button；　because　the　car　went　up　automatically。　When　it　stopped；　the　door　slid　wide；　revealing　the　council　room。
　　Behind　a　long　council　table　sat　Luis　Castenago；　alone。　He　was　busy　going　over　papers；　hence　his　eyes　were　lowered。　Behind　him　were　murals　flooded　with　his　own　figure；　painted　in　life　size。
　　One　showed　Castenago　taking　the　oath　of　office；　another　depicted　him　delivering　his　inaugural　address。　The　third　was　Castenago　casting　the　single　ballot　that　made　him　president　of　Centralba　for　life。
　　No　other　faces　appeared　in　the　panels。　Hence；　there　were　four　Castenagos　in　the　room…the　one　at　the　table　and　three　portrayed　upon　the　wall。
　　The　living　Castenago　was　as　motionless　as　the　painted　ones；　but　there　was　no　question　as　to　his　reality。　He　must　have　known　the　exact　time　that　it　took　the　silent　elevator　to　go　down　and　up；　for　he　spoke；　without　glancing　from　his　papers；　the　moment　that　The　Shadow　approached　the　table。
　　〃Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Allard；〃　he　said　politely。　〃We　have　an　apology　to　offer　you。　It　concerns　the　search　that　was　made　in　your　room　while　you　were　absent　last　night。〃
　　Castenago's　own　eyes　were　searching　as　they　finally　looked　up。　They　met　a　gaze　equal　to　their　own；　the　steady　one　that　The　Shadow　provided　as　Kent　Allard。　After　a　prolonged　stare；　Castenago　turned　away　and　sorted　the　papers；　picking　the　ones　he　wanted。
　　〃You　knew　that　your　room　was　searched？〃
　　〃I　had　no　reason　to　suppose　so；〃　returned　The　Shadow　coolly。　〃Everything　was　exactly　as　I　left　it。〃
　　〃Two　of　my　best　men　did　the　work；〃　acknowledged　Castenago　in　a　pleased　purr。　〃One　moment；　please；　senor；　while　I　mark　remendations　on　their　reports。　I　shall　tell　them　that　they　owe　thanks　to　you。　You　are　sure　that　you　noticed　nothing？〃
　　〃Nothing　except　that　the　room　smelled　bad。　But　that　didn't　surprise　me。
　　The　windows　were　open　and　the　wind　was　blowing　from　the　general　direction　of　the　palace。〃
　　The　cold　glint　that　flashed　in　Castenago's　eyes　turned　to　a　reflective　stare。　He　happened　to　remember　that　the　palace　lay　in　a　direct　line　between　Mount　Lotomoro　and　the　Imperial　Hotel。
　　The　volcano　had　been　very　smoky　shortly　after　sunset；　sending　a　drift　of　sulphur　fumes　toward　Libertad。　Maybe　Allard　was　allergic　toward　sulphur；　but；　from　the　look　that　Castenago　finally　gave　him；　he　might　learn　to　like　it；　along　with　brimstone；　if　he　wasn't　careful。
　　〃I　haven't　told　you　the　reason　for　the　search；〃　continued　Castenago。　〃It　happened　that　you　left　for　the　casino　earlier　than　the　other　members　of　your　party。〃
　　〃Quite　so；〃　resumed　The　Shadow。　〃I　understood　there　was　a　fiesta；　so　I　took　a　stroll　around　town。　I　met　a　pair　of　your　gatomontes；　by　the　way。〃
　　〃There　is　no　report　to　that　effect。〃
　　〃They　didn't　see　me。　They　were　chasing　fireflies　at　the　time。　I　suppose　they　caught　the　fiesta　fever。〃
　　
　　
　　ALLARD'S　statement　was　so　direct；　that　Castenago　made　a　note　of　it。　His　gatomontes　had　one　weakness；　as　a　rule。　They　tried　to　impress　the　senoritas；　even　when　on　duty。　Since　the　belles　of　Libertad　liked　fireflies　for　their　bs；　Castenago　didn't　doubt　Allard's　statement。
　　It　happened　that　the　dictator　lacked　a　report　from　the　gatomontes　who　had　mistaken　The　Shadow's　flashlight　for　a　firefly。　The　bomb　that　blasted　Peridor's　balcony　had　blotted　them　off　Castenago's　pay　roll。
　　〃My　followers　sometimes　mistake　my　suggestions　for　mands；〃　proceeded　Castenago；　narrowing　his　smudgy　eyebrows。　〃After　the　banquet；　I　suggested　that　you　take　your　friends　to　the　casino。　When　you　left；　it　was　presumed　that　you　had　violated　a　mand。
　　〃A　search　was　therefore　in　order；　according　to　a　recent　regulation。　Had　I　been　notified；　I　would　have　countermanded　it；　but　I　was　busy　with　a　council　meeting。〃
　　The　Shadow　knew　that　Castenago　was　covering　the　facts　of　the　search。　It　had　actually　begun　while　he　was　at　the　casino；　for　it　was　over　when　he　reached　the　hotel；　to　observe　the　car　that　had　followed　the　cab。
　　Evidently　Castenago　was　trying　to　learn　if　Allard　had　returned　to　the　hotel　at　that　time；　so　The　Shadow　didn't　oblige　him　with　any　indication　of　the　fact。
　　Adroitly；　Castenago　shifted　the　subject。　He　dropped　the　matter　of　the　preceding　night　and　referred　to　plans　for　the　ing　evening；　at　the　same　time　introducing　subtle　reminders　of　the　things　he　had　already　said。
　　〃I　understand　that　your　friends　enjoyed　the　casino；〃　declared　Castenago。
　　〃You　will　be　there　again　this　evening　all　the　evening。〃
　　〃At　your　suggestion？〃　queried　The　Shadow。　〃Or　by　your　mand？〃
　　〃Neither；　Senor　Allard。　Let　us　say；　at　my　request。　It　is　sometimes　dangerous　to　move　about　in　Libertad　after　dark。　Last　night；　something　serious　occurred…an　explosion　at　the　home　of　Professor　Peridor。　Now；　in　your　case；　senor…〃
　　As　Castenago　paused；　The　Shadow　inserted　a　statement　in　Allard's　clipped　tone：
　　〃You　told　me　that　you　would　arrange　for　me　to　see　Professor　Peridor。　I　am　still　waiting；　your　excellency。　In　fact；　I　supposed　that　you　called　me　here　to　arrange　that　particular　matter。〃
　　〃I　did；　senor！〃　The　eyebrows　were　moving　in　acpaniment　to　Castenago's　triumphant　tone。　〃I　want　you　at　the　casino；　so　that　I　can　reach　you　promptly　as　soon　as　I　arrange　the　Peridor　meeting。　The　bomb　incident　makes　it　imperative　to　use　caution　in　such　a　meeting。　Not　only　for　your　safety；　senor；　but　for　mine；　and；　particularly〃…his　stress　was　heavy…〃for　the　safety　of　our　good　friend　Peridor。〃
　　Very　cute　of　Castenago；　sugar…coating　everything　in　such　smooth　style。
　　Noting　Allard's　nod　of　acknowledgment；　the　dictator's　thick　lips　stretched　a　smile　above　his　undershot　jaw。　His　eyes　held　their　fixed　glitter；　as　he　added：
　　〃I　am　holding　a　council　meeting　this　evening。　A　usual　session；　but　there　is　no　way　of　knowing　how　long　is　will　last。　One　hour…two…perhaps　more。
　　Which　is　why　I　wish　to　have　you　available；　senor。　I　shall　call　the　casino　immediately　after　the　council　meeting。〃
　　Castenago　arose。　He　stiffened　into　a　Napoleonic　pose。　When　standing；　he　matched　to　an　absolute　degree　the　life…sized　portraits　in　their　gilded　frames。
　　Perhaps　he　was　practicing　for　another　picture；　which　would　portray　him　issuing　a　decree。　The　Shadow　had　risen；　also。　He；　too；　was　standing　stiffly；　until　Castenago　said：
　　〃The　audience　is　over。　My　secretary；　Estaban；　will　escort　you　to　your　car；　Senor　Allard。〃
　　
　　
　　ESTABAN；　small　and　sallow；　stepped　right　up　to　the　desk　and　bowed。
　　Castenago　was　watching　Allard's