mop of brown hair.

"But I don't understand--what's the 'complication'?"

She began to smile shyly--

"Lucas, don't you think--don't you see--there's nothing else. _I_ must
be the complication here."

* * * * *

"Ahem!" coughed Mr. Walkingshaw.

The lovers endeavored to look as though the artist had been merely
posing his patron's daughter.

"Well?" inquired that patron genially.

Lucas had not altogether lost his ready audacity.

"I came at once, sir," he replied, "and I have explained fully. The
complication has been cleared up."

Laughing gleefully, chattering away much more like the prospective best
man than the future father-in-law, he led them (an arm thrown about
each) towards the sofa, where they sat together, crowded but happy.

"What would you put your income at now, Lucas?" he inquired
mischievously.

Lucas looked a little rueful.

"The same fluctuating figures, I'm afraid," he confessed.

"My dear fellow, don't worry," said Heriot kindly. "Money isn't
everything in this world. Youth and love and pluck are the main things.
Hang it, what if you do get into debt occasionally? You've got a
pretty oofy father-in-law. Of course, my dear chap, I don't encourage
extravagance; far from it"--he glanced complacently at the chaste
upholstery of the Hotel Gigantique. "I believe in paying your way, and
laying by for a rainy day, and all that kind of thing, just as much as
ever I did--in theory, anyhow. But in practice I may just as well tell
you at once, to ease your mind, that Jean will have three hundred a year
to keep the pot boiling."

He pooh-poohed their gratitude with the most genial air.

"Don't mention it, my dear young people, don't mention it. It comes out
of Andrew's share, so it's all right."

"But I couldn't dream of robbing Andrew!" cried Jean warmly.

"He spends his days in robbing our clients," chuckled the senior
partner, "so you needn't worry about him. Besides, he doesn't know
how to spend money even when he has got it." He lowered his voice
confidentially. "Andrew hasn't a spark of the sportsman in him; he's all
very well as a partner--one wants 'em tough; but as a son--good Lord!"

And then the good gentleman tactfully retired to the billiard-room,
leaving behind him the two happiest people in London.

CHAPTER XII

Naturally, Lucas stayed to dinner, and naturally also he and Jean were
left in uninterrupted occupation of the private si