In Macao | Page 6

had viewed and sketched the
ruin, he had never been there by moonlight when its beauties were
enhanced and its defects hidden. He could see plainly each Chinese
character upon the carved scrolls and the words "Mater Dei" above the
doorway.
Slowly the shadows crept along, making the six broken saints in their
niches seem alive; slowly the shadows upon the ruin crept along, but a
swifter shadow suddenly came forward from the steps and Adams
having forgotten, in the entrancing scene the murderer and thief who
lurk in all Macao's corners, turned as he heard a soft step, just in time to
receive in his right arm the upward blow of a dagger aimed at his side.
He lost his balance falling backward down the steps, striking his head
upon a heap of broken roof-tiles where he lay insensible. As he fell, a
woman's scream pierced the night. There was hurried tramping of
sandaled feet, as of a dozen or more coolies. The shriek was again
heard and then all was silent and the plaza empty.
IV

Sleepy Macao the day after the attempted assassination of Robert
Adams was treated to a sensation such as had not been its experience
since the memorable day in 1848 when the old Governor de Amaral
lost his head at the Porta de Cerco. Murder, attempted or accomplished,
could not have stirred them up to such an extent, for that was too
common an occurrence, but the mystery of the event was the cause.
Priscilla Harvey and her maid with one of Dom Amaral's most trusted
men servants had disappeared as completely as though the earth had
swallowed them.
Robert Adams, since the night of the attack had not recovered his
senses, and lay in the house of Dom Amaral apparently between life
and death. The surgeons from Sam Januarius hospital had decided that
to save him, the amputation of his arm would be necessary, for the
dagger which had cut it had been poisoned.
In the midst of this trouble, Priscilla's absence was discovered, and
Macao was alarmed. Men were sent from the Governor's house in all
directions to search the public houses, the fishing boats, and every
possible place within the small territory. Word was sent to Taipa.
While the officials were thus employed, private parties of searchers
went over the entire peninsula looking among the rocks and copses of
the Estrada and even the Parsee Tower of Silence was examined, but all
in vain. The fan-tan house proprietor told of two unknown women with
a Chinese servant who had visited his house, but when they had left he
did not know. No more was learned though the search still continued,
for large rewards were offered by Dom Amaral as well as by the
Governor.
Dom Pedro directed the movements, taking greatest interest in all that
seemed possible to form a clue, and did not rest for nearly forty-eight
hours. Days soon formed a week but no news came, and Macao began
to drowze again. Detectives from Hong Kong came, made the usual
fuss and reached the usual conclusions of their kind, that it was a
mysterious event.
Contrary to all predictions Robert Adams, having become convalescent
and the surgical operation by which he had lost his arm having proved

successful when having heard the awful news, did not have a relapse
into the fever but seemed with a determination to become more rapidly
strong, and in five weeks was able to be about. He, of all Priscilla's
friends, was most hopeful. To his mind vividly came the scene at the
Ruins of St. Paul and that last sound he had heard. Adams' first walk
was to the scene of his attempted assassination and Madam de Amaral,
who was much broken with grief at the terrible event, accompanied him
in her chair, Dom Pedro going with them.
It was the month of May and the heat being oppressive Madam
d'Amaral after viewing the scene was carried home and the two young
men walked on to the Marcos garden. "I have a clue Dom Robert," said
Dom Pedro as they seated themselves beneath a broad banyan tree from
which a view of St. Paul's ruin could be had. "There began your
troubles," he said pointing, "and there this morning I received a paper
which will I hope lead to a solution of this mystery." He handed Adams
a bit of Chinese paper on which was written in Portuguese, "Come to
the Praca de Luiz de Camoens at 8 A.M. to-morrow; follow the guide
who meets you, and the lady Priscilla will be found." "I do not trust
anonymous communications," said Adams, "but we must clutch at a
straw now." "Nor do I," replied Dom Pedro, "and I will go with you;
we will go