“Yes.  Why not?  They are friends.”

“Oh!” Braddock became roguish again.  “I fancied they were lovers of a certain young lady who is in this room.”

By this time Lucy was beginning to guess what her step-father was aiming at, and grew correspondingly angry.

“Archie is my sole lover now,” she remarked stiffly.  “Sir Frank knows that we are engaged and is quite ready to be the friend of us both.”

“And he calls that love.  Idiot!” cried the Professor, much disgusted.  “But I would point out to you, Lucy—­and I do so because of my deep affection for you, dear child—­that Sir Frank is wealthy.”

“So is Archie—­in my love.”

“Nonsense! nonsense!  That is mere foolish romance, He has no money.”

“You should not say that.  Archie had money to the extent of one thousand pounds, which he gave you.”

“One thousand pounds:  a mere nothing.  Consider, Lucy, that if you marry Random you will have a title.”

Miss Kendal, whose patience was getting exhausted, stamped a very neat boot.

“I don’t know why you talk in this way, father.”

“I wish to see you happy.”

“Then your wish is granted:  you do see me happy.  But I won’t be happy long if you keep bothering me to marry a man I don’t care two straws about.  I am going to be Mrs. Hope, so there.”

“My dear child,” said the Professor, who always became paternal when most obstinate, “I have reason to believe that the green mummy can be discovered and poor Sidney’s death avenged if a reward of five hundred pounds is offered.  If Hope can give me that money—­”

“He will not:  I shall not allow him to.  He has lost too much already.”

“In that case I must apply to Sir Frank Random.”

“Well, apply,” she snapped, being decidedly angry; “it’s none of my business.  I don’t want to hear anything about it.”

“It is your business, miss,” cried Braddock, growing angry in his turn and becoming very pink; “you know that only by getting you to marry Random can I procure the money.”

“Oh!” said Lucy coldly.  “So this is why you sent for me.  Now, father, I have had enough of this.  You gave your consent to Archie being engaged to me in exchange for one thousand pounds.  As I love him I shall abide by the word you gave.  If I had not loved him I should have refused to marry him.  You understand?”

“I understand that I have a very obstinate girl to deal with.  You shall marry as I choose.”

“I shall do nothing of the sort.  You have no right to dictate my choice of a husband.”

“No right, when I am your father?”

“You are not my father:  merely my step-father—­merely a relation by marriage.  I am of age.  I can do as I like, and intend to.”

“But, Lucy,” implored Braddock, changing his tune, “think.”

“I have thought.  I marry Archie.”