mg.dictatorofcrime-第17部分

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　　ESTABAN；　small　and　sallow；　stepped　right　up　to　the　desk　and　bowed。
　　Castenago　was　watching　Allard's　face　intently；　to　see　if　it　showed　surprise　at　the　secretary's　sudden　appearance。
　　Not　a　flicker　came。　The　Shadow　had　already　observed　the　silence　of　Castenago's　private　elevator；　and　had　known　that　at　any　time　someone　might　step　surreptitiously　into　the　room。
　　It　was　typical　of　Castenago；　to　have　things　fixed　that　way。　In　an　emergency；　he　could　have　an　assassin　dispose　of　an　unwanted　visitor　by　ing　from　the　noiseless　elevator；　cross　the　heavily　tufted　floor；　and　deliver　a　knife　thrust　in　the　back。
　　Probably　Castenago　had　secret　push　buttons　beneath　the　desk；　where　he　could　press　them　with　his　knee　to　summon　such　creatures　as　Estaban；　or　others　more　formidable。
　　Since　Castenago's　own　chair　faced　the　elevator；　he　alone　could　see　the　solid　door　slide　open。　His　plans；　The　Shadow　took　it；　would　be　so　well　arranged　that　Castenago　wouldn't　even　have　to　signal。　The　mere　pressure　of　the　correct　knee　button　would　bring　the　proper　person　for　whatever　he　wanted。　In　this　instance；　Castenago　had　merely　required　his　secretary；　Estaban。
　　Despite　his　crude　exterior；　Castenago　used　subtlety　in　everything　he　did。
　　The　Shadow　considered　that　point　while　Estaban　was　conducting　him　downstairs。
　　Castenago　hadn't　needed　to　bring　the　secretary；　for　he　had　let　Allard　e　upstairs　alone。
　　Unquestionably；　the　dictator　was　trying　to　impress　the　point　that　a　slinky　assassin；　or　a　pair　of　hefty　gatomontes；　could　have　entered　in　place　of　the　frail　secretary。　In　brief；　Castenago　could　have　done　with　Allard　as　he　chose。
　　Murder；　arrest；　or　safe…conduct　from　the　palace…all　were　the　same　to　Luis　Castenago；　dependent　purely　upon　his　policy；　or　even　his　whim。
　　Unquestionably；　the　demonstration　hid　a　deeper　purpose。　Analyzing　the　case；　The　Shadow　saw　what　it　could　be。　Castenago　was　assuming；　of　course；　that　Allard　might　be　The　Shadow。　He　wanted　Allard　to　be　at　the　casino　this　evening。
　　Therefore；　it　was　logical　that　Murk　Wessel　and　his　fellow　crooks　would　be　absent　from　their　luxurious　hide…out。
　　That　prospect　fitted　perfectly　with　what　The　Shadow　had　told　Peridor：
　　namely；　that　Castenago　and　Wessel　would　have　to　hold　a　get…together。　It　also　jibed　with　Castenago's　mention　of　a　council　meeting；　a　perfect　cover…up　for　a　parley　between　the　dictator　and　Murk's　outfit。　Foreseeing　such　arrangements；　The　Shadow　intended　to　act　accordingly。
　　The　driver　of　Allard's　car　gave　a　sudden　start。　Though　it　was　broad　daylight；　he　fancied　that　he　had　heard　a　faint　echo　from　the　distance。　A　strange　sound；　no　louder　than　a　whisper；　but　it　was　grimly　mirthful；　matching　the　mysterious　laugh　attributed　to　La　Sombra！
　　Anxiously；　the　driver　peered　toward　the　smoking　cone　of　Lotomoro　and　hoped　that　the　reviving　demons　of　Indian　lore　would　be　content　within　their　sulphurous　abode！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XV　
　　　GAME　WITHIN　GAME　
　　IT　was　still　daylight　when　Kent　Allard　arrived　at　the　Casino　Internacional。　A　mild　play　had　started　at　the　roulette　tables；　and　Pierre　Treban；　the　dapper　manager　of　the　casino；　was　on　hand。　He　gestured　Allard　to　a　place；　only　to　receive　a　negative　headshake。
　　〃I　came　to　find　out　if　the　casino　had　opened；〃　said　Allard。　〃Also　to　learn　if　my　friends　could　dine　here。〃
　　〃As　you　see；　senor；　it　is　open；　and　we　serve　dinner　on　the　terrace。〃
　　〃Good！　May　I　telephone　the　hotel？〃
　　Treban　bowed　toward　a　far　door；　saying　that　it　was　his　office　and　that　a　telephone　was　available　there。　So　The　Shadow　went　there；　called　the　hotel；　and　spoke　to　Margo　Lane。
　　Using　Allard's　tone；　he　asked　her　to　tell　the　others　that　the　casino　was　open。　Then；　formally；　he　added：
　　〃I　should　like　to　have　you　dine　with　me；　Miss　Lane；　here　at　the　casino。　If　you　wish；　I　can　e　back　to　the　hotel　to　meet　you。〃
　　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　assured　Margo。　〃I'll　e　to　the　casino。　Where　will　you　be？　At　the　roulette　table？〃
　　〃Not　this　early。　Suppose　we　meet　in　the　gardens。〃
　　The　call　was　finished　and　The　Shadow　was　opening　the　office　door；　when　Treban　appeared。　What　the　dapper　man　said　convinced　The　Shadow　of　what　he　had　already　guessed：　that　the　office　telephone　was　tapped。
　　〃Ah；　Senor　Allard；〃　spoke　Treban。　〃So　you　have　called　your　friends。
　　Perhaps；　while　you　await　them；　you　would　like　to　see　our　gardens。〃
　　Escorted　by　Treban；　The　Shadow　started　his　tour　of　the　extensive　gardens。
　　It　was　only　too　plain　that　Treban　was　conducting　him　through　the　finished　sections　keeping　strictly　away　from　places　where　workmen　were　planting　new　shrubs。　Amidst　his　polite　gesticulations；　Treban　kept　glancing　at　the　sun。
　　He　was　trying　to　stall　until　sunset；　when　the　workers　quit；　but　his　scheme　failed。　As　Treban　pointed　to　a　gorgeous　bed　of　poppies；　Allard　looked　the　other　way；　through　a　miniature　forest　of　thin　bamboo　that　screened　the　rest　of　the　garden。
　　〃Look；　senor。　So　beautiful…〃
　　〃Very　beautiful。　Too　beautiful　to　be　kept　waiting。〃
　　With　that；　Allard　started　by　path　around　the　bamboo　thicket。　Treban　shouted　after　him；　causing　a　group　of　workmen　to　look　up。
　　The　Shadow　saw　their　faces；　those　of　Murk　Wessel　and　kindred　rats；　before　they　could　duck　away。　However；　he　ignored　them；　turning　at　Treban's　shouts；　he　was　in　time　to　score　again。
　　Treban　was　trying　to　shoo　the　phony　workmen　toward　the　casino。　He　stopped　when　Allard　looked　his　way。　Hurrying　up；　Treban　inquired：
　　〃You　saw　someone；　senor？〃
　　〃I　thought　I　saw　Miss　Lane。〃　The　Shadow　glanced　about。　〃Yes；　there　she　is。〃
　　He'd　timed　things　neatly。　Margo　had　actually　arrived　in　the　garden。
　　Hurrying　to　greet　her；　The　Shadow　was　there　ahead　of　Treban。　In　an　undertone　that　suited　Allard；　he　said：
　　〃Keep　watching　those　workmen；　but　don't　let　Treban　notice。　Try　to　see　where　they　go。〃
　　Treban　joined　them；　and　kept　watching　Allard　to　make　sure　he　didn't　look　the　wrong　way…which　made　it　easy　for　Margo。　Suggesting　that　Margo　might　like　to　see　the　flowers；　Treban　conducted　them　on　another　short　tour　through　the　finished　part　of　the　gardens。
　　Finally；　they　arrived　back　in　the　office。　Treban　left　them　in　order　to　reserve　a　dinner　table。
　　Allard's　gesture　stopped　a　question　that　was　on　Margo's　lips。　The　Shadow　knew　that　the　entire　office　might　be　wired　to　pick　up　conversation　there。　He　proffered　a　cigarette；　then　lighted　his　own。　He　strolled　to　the　wall　and　examined　a　framed　floor　plan　of　the　casino。　He'd　finished　when　Treban　returned　to　conduct　them　to　a　secluded　table　on　the　terrace。
　　There；　Allard's　nod　assured　Margo　that　she　could　speak。
　　〃They　went　into　a　little　door　at　the　inner　corner　of　the　wing；〃　said　Margo。　〃But　they　didn't　look　like　natives。　They　reminded　me　of　American　mobsters。　Are　they？〃
　　〃Very　probably。　Some　ugly　customers　followed　me　when　I　left　the　casino　last　night。　That's　why　I　wanted　to　check　among　the　workmen。〃
　　〃But　what　would　foreign　crooks　be　doing　here？〃
　　〃That's　what　I'm　going　to　find　out。〃
　　
　　
　　THE　waiter　had　arrived　to　take　the　order。　The　Shadow　gave　him　a　steady　look　and　decided　he　was　all　right。　Probably　Treban　was　playing　safe；　hoping　to　lull　any　suspicions。
　　Margo　saw　Allard　draw　a　gold　piece　from　his　pocket　and　drop　it　on　the　table。　The　coin　flipped　over；　it　had　two　heads。　That　was　the　way　with　all　gold　coins　in　Centralba。　Castenago's　image　was　stamped　on　both　sides。
　　〃If　I　like　the　dinner；　this　goes　double。〃　Apparently；　Allard　thought　the　waiter　had　stepped　away。　〃What's　more；　we'll　dine　here　again　tomorrow　night；　and　call　for　the　same　waiter；　if　he　proves　a　good　one。　I　like　discreet　waiters：
　　the　kind　who　never　remember　what　they　see　or　hear。〃
　　Margo　caught　the　idea　and　helped　by　giving　an　embarrassed　gesture。　Allard　looked　up　to　see　the　waiter。　Pocketing　the　gold　piece；　as　if　for　future　reference；　Allard　let　it　clink　against　another　in　his　pocket　and　exchanged　smiles　with　Margo。
　　The　waiter　bowed　in　a　manner　that　indicated　he　would　be　utterly　discreet。
　　He　went　away　as　soon　as　the　order　was　given。
　　〃That　fellow　won't　say　a　word　to　Treban；〃　assured　Allard。　〃But　keep　an　eye　out　while　I'm　gone。〃
　　〃You're　going　to　look　for　those　crooks？〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　find　them！〃　Allard's　manner　was　emphatic。　〃From　what　I　saw　of　the　floor　plan；　I　won't　have　any　trouble　getting　to　the　place　where　you　saw　them　go。〃
　　The　Shadow　had　no　trouble；　despite　the　fact　that　he　was　making　his　excursion　as　Allard；　not　as　a　figure　cloaked　in　black。
　　It　was　dark　outside　and　the　gloom　had　pervaded　the　casino；　except　where　brilliant　chandeliers　shone　upon　the　gaming　tables。　Moreover；　the　coolness　that　always　came　from　nightfall　had　brought　a　great　many　more　players　to　the　place。
　　It　was　easy　for　Allard　to　sidle　through　the　edges　of　the　throng　and　reach　the　pillars　that　supported　the　surrounding　balcony。　There　were　promenades　behind　those　pillars；　dimly　lighted　and　deserted。　Easing　along；　The　Shadow　paused　briefly　at　each　pillar；　until　he　reached　the　door　he　wanted。
　　It　led　to　a　passage；　where　The　Shadow　reached　a　side　stairs。　Going　down；　he　picked　his　way　about；　through　the　passages　and　rooms　on　the　floor　below；　using　his　tiny　flashlight　in　the　probe。　He　was　narrowing　the　quest　to　a　room　shown　on　the　floor　plan；　which　had　been　marked　〃respiradero　de　mina；〃
　　signifying　an　air　shaft。
　　Much　too　large　for　an　air　shaft；　the　marked　room　had　struck　The　Shadow　as　a　likely　hide…out　for　Murk　Wessel　and　the　other　fake　workmen。
　　Halfway　across　a　storeroom；　The　Shadow　halted；　then　took　a　swift　turn　toward　a　cloth…covered　bulk　in　the　corner。　The　thing　was　a　shrouded　roulette　table；　reserve　equipment　for　the　gambling　hall　upstairs。
　　Crouching；　The　Shadow　was　gone　from　sight　when　a　metal　partition　slid　open　at　the　end　of　the　room。　Pierre　Treban　stepped　into　sight；　plain　against　the　light　behind　him。　He　was　ing　from　the　so…called　air　chamber。
　　Letting　Treban　go　by；　The　Shadow　approached　the　partition　and　slid　it　open；　just　a　crack。　Through　the　space　he　saw　Murk　Wessel　and　the　other　crooks；　sitting　on　the　edge　of　cots　under　a　hanging　lamp。　They'd　just　begun　to　discuss　the　news　that　Treban　had　brought　them。
　　〃So　Castenago　wants　to　see　us；〃　Murk