mg.dictatorofcrime-第13章
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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！
CHAPTER X
MAN FROM THE PAST
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
