Others； very curiously； became despondent after dining at the presidential palace。 Such persons always tried to outvie each other in finding unique ways of suicide。
One sample case was that of a political opponent who had actually drunk poisoned wine that he had intended to send to Castenago…so the gatomontes reported。 Finding the dictator to be so kindly a soul； the would…be assassin had bee remorseful and taken his own life。
The listeners began to get uneasy； until Allard reassured them。
〃This is only a ten…course banquet；〃 he stated。 〃Nothing ever happens unless there are more than twelve。〃
〃What about Jose Durez？〃 asked Margo。 〃Did he and his friends dine with Castenago before leaving Centralba？〃
〃They just had a snack；〃 returned Allard。 〃A mere five…course luncheon。
Their mistake was their ignorance of American customs。 Murk Wessel didn't invite them to dinner in Miami Beach； so they weren't prepared for anything to happen。〃
STEPPING from the hotel； Margo paused in amazement to see the plaza thoroughly alive。 The afternoon had cooled； and the citizenry of Libertad was abroad。
Most surprising was the fact that many people looked happy。 They were laughing； chatting； and even singing when they met with strolling groups of musicians who carried odd instruments shaped like guitars。
〃They were the mariachis；〃 explained Allard； referring to the minstrels。
〃You'll see them everywhere in Libertad。 Watch for the marimba players； they're even more interesting。〃
The ride by car to Castenago's palace was quite different from the earlier trip through Libertad。 It was something like a guided tour through the capital； with Allard pointing out the interesting features。
Passing a great market place； where Indians in fanciful silver…buttoned jackets peered from beneath huge sombreros； the car swung around a lavish building of pink stucco that was centered in a tropical garden marvelous in its colorings。
Men were busily at work among the shrubbery； and unlike the natives； they were hard at their tasks。 They didn't even turn when the cars went by。
Evidently these workmen were imports。
〃The new casino；〃 stated Allard。 〃Eventually； it will make Monte Carlo a hamburger stand； in parison。〃
〃Who gambles there？〃 asked Margo。
〃Americans…what few there are in Centralba。 More will e。〃 Allard spoke positively。 〃Castenago isn't trying to hurry them。 The casino； itself； will bring them in time。 It's already attracted some Europeans； who can no longer play at Monte Carlo。〃
Turning through quaint； narrow streets； where upstairs balconies jutted above the shop fronts； the car zigzagged toward the outskirts of the city。 It detoured in order to pass a broad esplanade； fringed with strange tropical trees that half hid some old； yellow buildings that looked like relics from the days of the Spanish conquerors。
Someone was saying that this was the campus of National University； when Allard directed Margo's attention the other way。 He was pointing out the first marimba player that they had seen； and Margo had time to study the musician while the car paused for others to peer at the university。
The marimba player was setting up his instrument on a broad sidewalk opposite the esplanade； while eager natives watched。 His dark face was topped by a fancy…colored bandanna； and his shoes； like his gaudy jacket； had silver buckles。
More interesting to Margo than the bare…legged player； was the marimba itself。 The crude instrument was a long board； with keys much like a xylophone； but beneath the keyboard were hollow gourds。
Two dozen in number； the gourds ranged in size from very small to huge； though the line looked somewhat irregular。 When the player struck the marimba with small hammers； the gourds gave out soft； plaintive tones； perfectly in key。 Evidently they had been matched for sound； rather than appearance； but before Margo could catch the strains of the native melody； the car was on its way。
Through a gateway not far from the marimba player； Margo glimpsed a lovely patio surrounded by a wall。 As they swung the corner to follow the walled estate； Allard spoke。
〃That is where Francisco Peridor lives；〃 he said。 〃He is the head of National University； hence his residence is directly opposite it。〃
Through the slight dusk Margo saw the uniforms of soldiers； patrolling outside the grounds。 She thought that she caught sight of a slinking figure in green…gray； one of the gatomontes。
Margo said nothing； but she felt that she fully understood。 Francisco Peridor； friend of the Centralban people； had been placed under 〃protective custody〃 by Luis Castenago。
The car took another swing and the presidential palace bulked ahead。 It was of modern architecture； but excellent in design； splendid with the blaze of lights that threw scintillating beams upon gushing fountains。
Only briefly did Margo observe a flaw in this glorious sight。 As they flanked the palace； a square； low…roofed extension was visible behind it； forming an ugly contrast to the gorgeous palace。
〃The presidio；〃 remarked Allard； 〃where Castenago keeps his garrison。 Very convenient； to have the military close at hand in case of a revolt。 It helps politically too。 They say that Castenago frequently receives senators through the front door of the palace and bows them out the back…to a jail cell in the presidio。〃
Margo shuddered； for by then； the car had reached the front of the palace and an escort of guards in full…dress uniform were waiting to conduct the guests into Castenago's presence。
All the way up the marble steps that lay between the spraying fountains； Margo kept wondering if she and her friends would e out by the same way！
USHERED to a vast reception room； they were met by Luis Castenago； himself。
The postage stamps didn't do justice to the supreme ruler of Centralba。 No portrait could have properly depicted him。 His face was too mobile to be caught in any fixed pose that could show the evil that it represented。 Just as a snake is terrifying 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 Castenag