Allard was The Shadow； sure that the mysterious crime…hunter would check on the movements of Wessel's crew； Castenago had bluffed regarding a meeting with the crooks； to place The Shadow in a false light。
It was； indeed； a false light； but with it； The Shadow recognized a true one。 Murk Wessel and his cronies had certainly e to the palace； for Castenago knew that The Shadow might have chosen to trail them all the way。 If so； where were they？ The smiles of Luis Castenago told。
Three smiles； all painted ones； on the life…sized portraits that filled the walls behind the dictator's chair。 The Shadow noted narrow cracks between the portraits and the side of the frames。 There were six such side frames； in all； and one hadn't been pushed aside。 Castenago had probably wanted it that way； as an index from which The Shadow would refer to the other frames。
Each of five cracks showed the slight gleam of a gun muzzle； signifying that Murk Wessel and his four target…shooting friends were the men on duty behind the paintings。
Remembering that Peridor had mentioned an old council room adjoining the new one； The Shadow understood the rest。 Castenago had probably left the council before the crooks arrived； and smuggled the newers into the old room。
Quick were The Shadow's mental flashes。 Murk and his men weren't shooting； therefore； they weren't going to start until Castenago gave the word； which he wouldn't； unless the pinch became absolute。
He might excuse the fact that killers were hidden behind the portraits； on the pretext that they were protecting the council meeting。 Good enough； if the councilors never learned who the marksmen were。
There was a stronger reason why Castenago hadn't ordered immediate gunfire。 Castenago was personally on the spot。 He had to be。 Without Castenago at the council table； The Shadow would have suspected something wrong and wheeled back into the shelter of the elevator。 To really trap The Shadow； Castenago had to be present； and therefore was。
If shooting started； Murk's marksman would riddle The Shadow； but never fast enough to prevent his delivery of a few shots； too。 The first of those would be for Castenago。 Ridding a nation of a tyrant would be a triumph for The Shadow； even in death。 It was even possible that he would voluntarily make such choice； and start the shooting first。
That was why Castenago had another card up his sleeve； or； more correctly； a pair of them。 He looked toward a front corner of the room； which formed an alcove that couldn't be sighted from the elevator door。
〃Please step forward；〃 said Castenago in Spanish。 〃You； Professor Peridor； and your daughter。〃
THEY came forward； Peridor and Mariquita； only to halt when they caught a quick glint from The Shadow's eyes。 Peridor's own gaze was sad； Mariquita's pleading。 They wanted The Shadow to know that they had no part in this。
Castenago had ordered them brought to the palace； presumably to answer questions when the council investigated last night's bombing。 There had been no way for them to get word to The Shadow。
Fortunately； they understood that The Shadow wanted them to halt where they were。 Thus； he prevented them from blocking his aim toward Castenago； who still held his rigid； hand…lifted pose。
Looking again toward Castenago； The Shadow wanted them to halt dictator's manner。 Castenago's own life was safe； because The Shadow would desist from suicidal action that would produce the deaths of Peridor and Mariquita； as well as his own。 Safe； at least； if he dismissed those gunners behind the portraits。
〃Ah； Senor Sombra；〃 spoke Castenago smoothly。 〃We have heard that you； too； were witness to events last night。 You have e here armed； perhaps because you do not trust us。 It would be better if we could talk as friends。〃
He was making slight backward gestures with his hands。 One by one； the gun muzzles were retiring； the portrait frames sliding back in place。 The Shadow was lowering the automatic that covered Castenago； so the dictator continued his motions。
When the last of Murk's guns had disappeared； The Shadow placed both automatics on the table and turned to the council members。
〃You have the words of El Piojo。〃 Speaking in fluent Spanish； The Shadow was referring to Castenago by the official title which the dictator had assumed as supreme ruler of Centralba。 〃I now call upon you to bear witness that I have accepted his terms。 Disarmed； I surrender to this council； not to El Piojo。 I am ready to abide by your decision in my case。〃
A strong stroke on The Shadow's part。 He had definitely curbed the menace of hidden guns。 Castenago couldn't recall Murk and the other crooks if he wanted。 Even in Centralba there were distinctions between law and murder。
It was through the nicety of those distinctions that Castenago held the support of this council。 Though he could have eliminated them individually； by mere snaps of his fingers； taken altogether； they were too strong a bundle to break。
Professor Peridor； himself； had assured The Shadow on that point； therefore； The Shadow was acting on a friend's advice。 But Peridor had added a strong warning； one that The Shadow had evidently forgotten； much to the old professor's horror。
Very definitely； Peridor had stated that Castenago； so long as he operated by stated regulations； could sway the council to any decision that he desired。
Thus； The Shadow； in removing a menace that Peridor hadn't seen； had placed himself in the pathway of another that Peridor recognized only too well。
Watching Castenago； Peridor saw the big…jawed dictator take The Shadow's guns and toss them carelessly into a table drawer； as a symbol of good faith that wasn't in Castenago's mind。 The broad smile on Castenago's lips gave real evidence as to his sentiments。
It was no longer a duel between Castenago and The Shadow。 The game had reached another； inner stage。 This game was fixed the way Castenago liked it。
Stepping from behind the table； Castenago spoke in cunning style； first gesturing to Peridor and Mariquita as he addressed the council。
〃THESE worthy friends of ours；〃 he said； 〃are still with us only because they escaped a bomb planted in the patio of their home。 That bomb caused the death of two gatomontes。 I； your leader； El Piojo； have sworn that I shall find the man responsible； and bring him to trial for his crime before this council。〃
The approval of the council was unanimous。 They rose to their feet to express it。 Peridor and Mariquita knew what was ing next。 Their words drowned out by the council's chorus； they sprang to The Shadow's side to clutch his folded arms； hoping to turn him toward the elevator。
It was then too late。 The door was sliding open。 Castenago had pressed a button before leaving his chair。 Four palace guards strode into the council room； at Castenago's mand； two of them drew Peridor and his daughter away； while the other pair gripped The Shadow。
〃I have kept my promise！〃 boomed Castenago to the councilors。 〃Every witness who saw the bombing at Peridor's has borne testimony to the presence of a single stranger； monly regarded as the culprit。 I refer to this prisoner； who calls himself 'La Sombra。' It is right that he should be the first man to e to trial！〃
Peridor and Mariquita heard the final words as two guards led them into the elevator。 As the silent door slid shut； they heard an answer to Castenago's accusation。
It was a strangely whispered laugh； that mocked the pretense that was known as justice in this realm where Castenago stood supreme。 A challenge to the dictator and his power； that mirth that was The Shadow's。
A futile laugh； it seemed； ing from a man on trial for his life before a tribunal governed by a human fiend who could force his dupes to echo the one word： 〃Guilty！〃
CHAPTER XVII
BEFORE DAWN
THE Shadow's trial was worse than a travesty on justice。 It was so filled with precedent and citations of existing laws； that the average prisoner would have believed himself guilty。
It made The Shadow understand why so many Centralbans had accepted the yoke of Castenago。 For the dictator； in every word and deed； declared himself an upholder of right。
He was using the old； time…honored laws of his country in this trial； not recent regulations of his own device。 Castenago knew those laws by heart； evidently he'd spent months going through the statutes； picking out every legal oddity that would benefit his iron…handed regime。
By Centralban law； a prisoner was considered guilty until he proved himself innocent。 This； Castenago argued； was much preferable to the reverse system established by English law。 It meant that the judge； himself； became an advocate in behalf of the prisoner； which Castenago promptly proceeded to do。
He suggested that La Sombra might have an alibi； if not； that he might be able to accuse some other person of the bombing。 When The Shadow offered no help along these lines； Castenago obligingly tried other ways to help out the prisoner。
Always； Castenago used the title： 〃La Sombra。〃 He did so for a reason that he tactfully did not mention： namely； if The