mg.dictatorofcrime-第20部分

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ent　the　council　from　identifying　The　Shadow　as　Allard；　a　man　whom　most　of　them　had　met。　In　turn；　it　further　prevented　them　from　learning　that　he　was　an　American。
　　As　usual；　Castenago　was　working　subtly。
　　He　had　The　Shadow　in　a　dilemma。　To　reveal　himself　as　Allard；　in　defiance　of　Castenago's　legal　interpretation；　he　would　be　disclosing　the　true　identity　of　The　Shadow；　thereby　rendering　it　useless　in　the　future。　Contrarily；　by　keeping　his　identity　concealed；　The　Shadow　was　placing　himself　beyond　redress　from　local　law。
　　Either　way；　Castenago　would　win。
　　He　could　order　Allard's　deportation；　he　could　demand　the　execution　of　La　Sombra。　From　Castenago's　viewpoint；　it　was　unfortunate　that　two　paths　were　open　to　the　prisoner；　for　he　would　prefer　to　dispose　of　The　Shadow　for　all　time。
　　But　Castenago；　in　his　own　neat　way；　was　working　to　close　the　first　path；　that　of　banishment；　and　make　death　the　positive　verdict。
　　Since　The　Shadow　offered　no　defense；　Castenago　decided　to　call　in　the　witnesses。　In　accordance　with　a　law　dating　from　the　eighteenth　century；　this　was　never　done　in　the　presence　of　the　accused。　So　Castenago　summoned　more　guards　and　manded　them　to　take　La　Sombra　to　the　presidio。
　　〃You　will　be　detained　there；〃　Castenago　told　The　Shadow；　〃until　the　trial　is　ended。　I　shall　deem　it　my　especial　privilege　to　inform　you　of　the　verdict。〃
　　
　　
　　EVERY　member　of　the　palace　guard　was　along　The　Shadow's　route　to　the　presidio。　The　fancy　soldiers　totaled　more　than　fifty；　and　nearly　a　score　of　gatomontes　supplemented　them。　Castenago　was　taking　no　chances　on　The　Shadow　performing　another　whirlwind　escape。
　　Crossing　the　cement　courtyard；　The　Shadow　was　marched　into　a　cell　block　and　placed　in　immediate　confinement。
　　The　cell　chosen　for　him　was　the　strongest　in　the　block。　Its　barred　door　was　so　heavy　that　it　took　two　soldiers　to　swing　it　shut；　and　it　had　three　strong　locks。
　　Having　incarcerated　the　prisoner；　the　guard　captain　took　the　keys　personally。　He　put　four　men　on　duty　at　each　end　of　the　cell　block；　but　left　none　near　the　cell　itself。
　　Castenago　not　only　feared　the　guards　might　be　bribed；　he　knew　that　The　Shadow　might　play　upon　their　superstitions。　Hence；　he　had　ordered　that　no　one　should　have　contact　with　the　prisoner。
　　It　suited　The　Shadow。
　　The　cell　had　a　metal　cot；　which　could　stand　on　three　legs　as　well　as　four；　provided　no　one　lay　on　it。　The　Shadow　wasn't　sleepy；　so　he　removed　one　of　the　cot　legs　and　tried　it　on　the　barred　window。
　　The　bars　were　too　stout；　and　too　deeply　embedded　in　concrete；　to　be　demolished　by　the　lever　that　The　Shadow　employed。　Besides；　the　window　opened　into　the　courtyard；　where　any　clatter　on　the　bars　would　be　heard。
　　Pausing　a　few　moments；　The　Shadow　stared　through　the　bars。　The　night　was　very　mild；　and　sounds　carried　far。　He　could　hear　the　patter　of　the　fountains　and　the　music　of　the　marimba。　The　local　musicians　generally　stayed　up　all　night；　along　with　the　rest　of　the　inhabitants。　It　was　all　very　pleasant　and　lulling；　but　The　Shadow　had　no　time　for　it。
　　Instead；　he　tried　the　cot　leg　on　the　stone　wall　beneath　the　window；　and　found　that　results　were　easy。　The　cell　was　below　ground　level；　and　therefore　damp。　The　stones　were　moldy；　and　mortar　between　them　gone。
　　It　was　no　trick　at　all　to　pry　out　a　couple　of　stones　and　dig　into　those　beyond。　The　Shadow　amused　himself　with　the　task　for　a　long　while　until　his　hope　of　an　escape　was　suddenly　terminated。
　　Two　thirds　of　the　way　through　the　thick　wall；　The　Shadow　came　upon　an　outer　layer　of　new；　and　very　solid；　masonry。　The　cot　leg　proved　about　as　useful　as　a　can　opener　against　the　obstacle　in　question。
　　It　was　like　Castenago；　to　bulwark　his　cells　from　the　outside。　Probably；　dozens　of　other　prisoners　before　The　Shadow　had　supposed　that　they　could　hack　their　way　through；　only　to　meet　with　disappointment。
　　The　Shadow　tossed　away　the　leg　of　the　cot　and　sat　down　on　the　other　end。
　　He　still　had　cigarettes；　so　he　lighted　one　and　considered　the　Castenago　question。　The　Shadow's　case　hadn't　yet　reached　the　fatal　stage。　He　could　always　bargain　with　Castenago；　and　the　miserly　dictator　would　certainly　listen　to　terms　that　involved　a　million　dollars。
　　Since　Murk　Wessel　was　willing　to　talk　about　eliminating　The　Shadow　for　a　price；　the　thing　could　work　the　other　way　about。
　　In　fact；　Castenago　would　prefer　an　offer　from　The　Shadow。　Maybe　he　was　even　playing　for　one；　another　case　of　a　game　within　a　game。
　　The　Shadow's　price　would　simply　be　that　of　life；　and　Castenago　would　save　a　cold　million　cash。　Moreover；　he'd　go　through　with　the　bargain　of　eliminating　Murk；　whereas　Castenago　would　doubt　that　Murk　could　ever　dispose　of　The　Shadow。
　　A　very　nice　arrangement；　since　The　Shadow　had　e　to　Libertad　with　the　rightful　idea　of　hunting　down　Murk　Wessel　to　begin　with。　There　was　just　one　thing　about　it　that　The　Shadow　did　not　like。
　　He　would　have　to　pledge　that　he　would　never　again　disturb　Luis　Castenago。
　　To　The　Shadow；　such　a　promise　would　be　as　bad　as　an　actual　alliance　with　the　notorious　tyrant。　It　would　be　better　to　find　another　way。
　　Deep　in　thought；　The　Shadow　listened　to　the　sounds　from　outside。　Softly；　he　laughed。　His　whispered　mirth　told　that　he　had　found　the　way。
　　
　　
　　MEANWHILE；　within　the　palace；　Castenago　had　e　downstairs；　after　a　long　session　with　his　council。　He　stopped　in　the　reception　room；　where　Peridor　and　Mariquita　were　waiting；　under　guard。　With　a　profound　bow；　Castenago　addressed　Peridor。
　　〃The　council　has　heard　the　evidence；〃　declared　the　dictator。　〃The　witnesses　are　gone；　and　the　case　is　under　deliberation；　with　the　council；　itself；　as　jury。〃
　　Indignantly；　Peridor　arose。　For　once；　he　was　ready　to　defy　the　wrath　of　Castenago。
　　〃With　you　to　be　the　judge！〃　stormed　Peridor。　〃Never；　during　your　regime；　has　there　been　justice　in　Centralba！〃
　　Frantically；　Mariquita　was　trying　to　draw　her　father　back　into　his　chair；　fearing　that　Castenago　would　summarily　order　the　guards　to　take　him　to　the　presidio。　To　her　amazement；　Castenago　bowed　again　and　spoke　quite　mildly：
　　〃You　forget；　Senor　Peridor；　that　my　policy　is　to　be　lenient。　I　was　forced　to　show　strength　only　because　our　government　was　weak。　Having　established　my　regime；　I　seek　to　balance　power　with　justice。　I　assure　you；　I　shall　remend　clemency　in　the　case　of　La　Sombra。〃
　　Peridor；　himself；　was　surprised；　half　inclined　to　believe。　He　remembered　Castenago's　promise　with　Durez；　only　to　recall　that　it　had　meant　murder　outside　of　Centralba；　according　to　The　Shadow。
　　Still；　there　might　be　facts　in　Castenago's　favor；　and　Peridor　couldn't　disregard　the　point　that　Durez；　in　his　own　underhand　style；　had　given　a　false　promise　to　Castenago。
　　〃I　swear　by　the　name　of　Castenago；〃　purred　the　heavy…browed　dictator；　〃that　you　will　hear　the　final　verdict　before　you　leave　here；　Senor　Peridor；　also；　that　you　will　see　justice　given。〃
　　When　Castenago　backed　a　pledge　with　his　own　name；　it　counted。　The　dictator　of　Centralba　was　too　egotistical　to　let　himself　down。　When　Castenago　bowed　himself　from　the　room；　Peridor　actually　felt　at　ease；　and　so　did　Mariquita。
　　Neither　had　caught　the　full　interpretation　that　Castenago　had　put　into　his　words。
　　
　　
　　MORE　hours　passed。　Dawn　was　near　when　Castenago　again　left　the　council　chamber。　This　time；　he　did　not　stop　to　speak　to　Peridor；　but　went　directly　to　the　presidio。　He　entered　the　cell　block　and　stopped　at　the　door　which　barred　The　Shadow's　escape。
　　Castenago　smiled　when　he　saw　the　uprooted　stones　that　told　of　The　Shadow's　futile　efforts。　Then　the　dictator's　face　went　solemn。
　　〃The　council　found　La　Sombra　guilty；〃　he　declared。　〃I　asked　for　clemency；　pleading　for　another　trial　at　least。　Unfortunately；　I　was　outvoted。　You　have　only　one　hope：　I　can　still　reprieve　the　sentence。　I　might　do　so；　if　it　would　lead　to　the　permanent　removal　of　certain　enemies　who　are　a　threat　to　myself　and　my　country。〃
　　Castenago　was　fishing　for　the　offer　that　would　save　him　a　million　dollars。
　　The　Shadow　did　not　accept　the　bait。
　　〃Centralba　has　only　one　enemy；〃　spoke　The　Shadow。　〃His　name　is　Luis　Castenago！　If　you　give　me　my　freedom；　I　shall　allow　you　one　privilege；　Castenago…that　of　suicide　for　the　honor　of　the　country　that　was　never　yours。〃
　　Calmly；　The　Shadow　was　banking　upon　one　policy　of　Castenago's。　The　dictator　loved　to　display　false　friendship　to　his　victims　before　their　executions。　It　was　almost　a　certainty　that　he　would　follow　the　rule　in　The　Shadow's　case。　With　a　solemn　bow；　Castenago　proved　that　he　was　acting　true　to　form。
　　〃You　shall　die　at　dawn；〃　said　Castenago；　〃but；　meanwhile；　I　shall　not　forget　that　you　are　my　guest。　I　have　ordered　caviar　and　champagne　to　be　served　here　in　this　cell。〃
　　〃Thoughtful　of　you；〃　returned　The　Shadow。　〃But　what　are　food　and　drink　without　music？　I　shall　miss　it。〃
　　Distant；　the　tones　of　a　marimba　floated　through　the　bars　of　the　cell。
　　Castenago　smiled　as　he　said：
　　〃La　Sombra　shall　have　music。〃
　　The　marimba　player　arrived　with　the　guards；　who　were　bringing　buckets　of　champagne　and　a　tray　of　caviar　sandwiches。　The　Shadow　invited　them　to　join　him　in　the　feast；　which　they　did；　since　there　were　too　many　to　begin　an　individual　chat　with　The　Shadow。
　　The　marimba　player　plodded　through　a　tune；　then　took　time　out　for　a　drink　of　champagne。
　　By　then；　The　Shadow　was　interested　in　the　marimba。
　　〃Those　gourds　of　yours；〃　he　said；　in　a　dialect　that　the　musician　would　understand。　〃How　long　do　they　take　to　ripen；　if　planted？〃
　　The　marimba　player　tilted　his　head　and　laughed。　The　jest　seemed　to　please　him。
　　〃As　long　as　you　wish；〃　he　replied。　〃Certain　of　them。〃　He　moved　his　hand　along　the　lines　of　hanging　ovals　and　stopped　at　the　larger　end。　〃These；　for　instance。〃
　　One　of　the　guards　guffawed。
　　〃Give　La　Sombra　one　that　will　grow　in　half　an　hour；〃　the　guard　suggested。
　　〃It　must　be　one　that　blossoms　in　the　darkness；　if　he　wishes　to　see　it　bloom。　It　will　be　dawn　in　half　an　hour；　and　then　La　Sombra　dies。〃
　　With　another　laugh；　the　marimba　player　continued　the　jest　by　plucking　one　of　the　larger　gourds　from　beneath　the　keyboard。　He　fingered　it；　then　passed　it　through　the　bars。　As　The