J. Allan Dunn

“ And, though roses grow in China, we have a more typical flower that bears the charm of sweet forgetfulness—the faculty of dreamless sleep. The lotus! May its petals bring to all of you that boon to end the night."
The canopy above the table divided and a shower of fragrant blossoms fell while all the room was filled with mystical perfume. Laughing, congratulating, the guests departed, the princes standing to bid them farewell.
"We shall see you once more before we leave, I hope," said Ten Shin to McNeill and Helen. Then as they passed on he touched Remsden on the arm. ”

“ Remsden looked at it with a shudder.
"And he said that Mr. Remsden was in danger of sickness that was to be averted by the medicine that he, Tao Chan, would give him tomorrow. Are you to see him tomorrow?"
"Yes," answered Remsden. "Thank God I am. Good night, you two. Good night."
They watched him leave the room, feeble, bowed, a man old before his time. Then youth turned to youth. ”

“ Tao Chan had evidently arrived with the duplicate, leaving some excuse, or perhaps a second replica, behind him. This one was to be exchanged for the original. Everybody's face was to be saved. Helen, by Chinese drugs, to be cured, Remsden to be left as president, and relieved of his Damoclean fate. Only the museum would suffer and be none the worse for it, thought McNeill, knowing other spurious objects venerated there as real.
He, Neill McNeill, had brought this about by taking advantage of China's position as the Sick Man of Asia, looking to America for aid. ”