〃They are not beyond his reach；〃 explained The Shadow。 〃Castenago sent Durez away to find false security。 He had the murderers e here to gain real protection。〃
One person would have accepted that statement without question： namely； Margo Lane。 It explained the matter of the missing mosquito boat。 The speedy craft in which Murk Wessel and his lieutenants had fled Miami was identical with units of the mosquito fleet； and had been mistaken for such a boat。
It couldn't have been otherwise； as The Shadow reasoned it。 With ten million dollars to lose； Murk and his pals wouldn't have trusted a boat that could be outraced by anything else on Biscayne Bay。
Twelve mosquito boats had gone out by moonlight； only eleven had returned by day； a discrepancy forgotten by everyone save The Shadow。 Margo's count stood justified； though she didn't know it。
Not having heard about the mosquito fleet； Francisco Peridor still had a question for The Shadow。 He put one； right to the point：
〃You have seen these men…Murk Wessel and the other assassins…here in Libertad？〃
〃Yes。 By day； they are workers on the grounds of the Casino Internacional； where they pass unrecognized。 At night； they are at Castenago's service。 Their duty； this evening； was to assassinate me； as they did Durez。 They failed。〃
The Shadow's statement ended with a whispered laugh induced by the gazes with which Peridor and Mariquita acknowledged his words。 He had convinced these friends that his theory was correct。 The course ahead was plain。
The very stratagem whereby Castenago had disposed of Durez was the weak link in the dictator's armor。 If revealed as the dabbler in international crime； the dictator would find himself an outcast。 The unmasking of Luis Castenago was the deed The Shadow sought to acplish。
Upon it depended the freedom of a nation！
CHAPTER XIII
GONE WITH THE BLAST
ONLY The Shadow could have found the weak link in the chain with which Castenago fettered Centralba。 Visualizing the case from every angle； Francisco Peridor was fixed in that conclusion。 Strange how the trail had reversed itself under The Shadow's logic！
Leading directly away from Castenago； it had e right back to the man itself； but what to do about it was a very moot problem。
Peridor； himself； was powerless and the same applied to Mariquita。 What they had learned aroused their hopes； but equally increased their danger。
Should Castenago even suspect what they had learned； their lives would be snuffed on the instant。 Both felt that whatever aid they might supply； would be too feeble to assist The Shadow's cause。
To their surprise； The Shadow deemed otherwise。 First； he was counting upon Peridor to supply him with needed information regarding Castenago。 Details of the presidential palace could help； so Peridor supplied them。 Names of persons who might oppose Castenago could also be of use； but Peridor shook his head at the mere mention。
No one dared oppose Castenago； he said； though many would relish the chance。 That； in itself； bore one promise。 Should Castenago be exposed as an international plotter； any witness to the fact would so testify； if assured of safety。
In brief； Castenago was not surrounded by a council of plotters； for he trusted no one whose craft might even approach his own。 Instead； he depended upon human tools who were subject to intimidation。 It would be a case of turning a lot of worms against the early bird。
During that discussion； The Shadow dropped the detailed information that Mariquita wanted。 He mentioned Colin Nayre and the fact that he had escaped by plane to somewhere in the Caribbean。
Though The Shadow did not definitely state that Nayre planned an immediate return to Centralba； Mariquita's eyes glistened with eager hope。 It was after she had gone that The Shadow told her father that Nayre might even now be around。
〃Nayre's safety； of course； depends on secrecy；〃 declared The Shadow。
〃Should his path cross mine； I shall acquaint him with the facts； though he is one person who might learn them independently。 Our main issue； however； is Castenago。〃
There was a solemn nod from Peridor。 He was racking his brain for a way to trap the dictator。
〃If I could only gain more time…〃
〃That is easy enough；〃 interrupted The Shadow。 〃Play into Castenago's hands through unwise statements。 Offer to eulogize Durez； as though you took Castenago's amnesty at face value。 It will give Castenago opportunity to instigate a new demonstration among the students。〃
Wearily； Peridor smiled。 He was tired of intrigue； but the suggestion pleased him。 It would be a duel of wits between La Sombra and Luis Castenago。
Peridor was glad that he had found a friend who could supply the strategy at which the professor himself had failed。 This particular stroke was so in keeping with Peridor's natural style； that Castenago would never suspect its subtlety。
〃It will help；〃 Peridor agreed。 〃But to what end？ Granted that Castenago has afforded refuge to assassins； why need he ever admit it？ If Wessel and his friends are discovered at the casino； Castenago can blame their presence on Pierre Treban； the manager； who is a man of very questionable repute。〃
〃The blame will fall on Castenago personally；〃 assured The Shadow； 〃If he is found in pany with the assassins themselves。〃
〃But Castenago never visits the casino。〃
〃I know。 That is why I was more interested in the presidential palace。 We shall wait until the assassins visit Castenago there。〃
〃Impossible！ Why should Castenago ever invite them to the palace？〃
〃To settle certain unfinished business；〃 explained The Shadow。 〃So large a matter； that Castenago cannot ignore it。 Ten million dollars is a large sum； professor； even to Castenago。〃
THE point struck home。 Until this moment； Peridor had almost forgotten the Durez money。 Now； he realized why Castenago had been so generous toward the Durez faction。 The dictator had merely entrusted them with funds that he had already arranged to reclaim through Murk Wessel。
It fitted perfectly with the schemes of Castenago。 Well did he； the master plotter； understand the workings of the criminal mind。
Castenago had chosen Wessel as a man who would be satisfied with a fraction of the ten millions involved。 To a certain point； Murk would want all he could get； beyond that he would sacrifice the rest for protection； the sort that only Castenago could supply。
It was a certainty that the stolen wealth now lay in the security of Castenago's secret vaults； which were so deeply hidden that even Peridor did not know their location in the palace。
Whatever percentage he had promised the assassins； Castenago would offer less； now that the work had been acplished。 In his turn； Wessel would want more。
Such was the significance of the laugh that Peridor heard； softly uttered by The Shadow's hidden lips。 Nor did The Shadow need to mention the logic that lay behind it。 In fact； The Shadow himself was responsible for the situation； because he had thinned the ranks of Wessel's crew in the battle at Miami Beach。
It would be the invariable story。 Castenago； as the brain； would argue that since there were less crooks to share the profits； they could afford to take a smaller percentage。
Contrarily； Wessel would claim that crime's hazard had proven greater than anticipated； therefore warranting a bonus。 The settlement would require a meeting； and a long one。
〃I shall watch Wessel；〃 The Shadow told Peridor。 〃When the right time es…〃
This wasn't the right time； it was the wrong time。 The door of the room was thrust open by one of Peridor's servants； who exploded a streak of Spanish； including the name 〃La Sombra；〃 which he emphasized by gesticulating toward The Shadow。
It wasn't necessary for Peridor to interpret。 The Shadow understood； even though the servant's outpour was thick with Centralban dialect。
Patrolling soldiers had found the gatomontes lying in the shrubbery。 They were ing in to search the mansion； to learn if it contained a lurker。 As he finished； the servant drew his machete； brandishing it bravely； to indicate that this time he would use it in The Shadow's service。 Peridor was opening a table drawer to bring out an old…fashioned pistol。
The Shadow stopped them both。
〃My visit must not be known；〃 he told them。 〃Show me a quick way out。
Afterward； claim that you did not see me。 You can do it best by doubting that I even exist。〃
Peridor nodded。 Though honest to a fault； he could carry through that bluff。 It was possible in the case of La Sombra； who came and vanished like the night itself。 He told the servant to show The Shadow the short route to the patio。
Lights were bobbing all about when The Shadow crept out through a forgotten door beneath the balcony of Peridor's mansion。 The patio was alive with police and soldiers； some on the balcony itself。
The other servant had opened the main door； but the search of the house had not begun because someone had stumbled upon the sentry； who lay near the end of the balcony。 Excitement over the new find produced a new excitement。
Barely escap