The complication was there! I looked at his unshaken solemnity with the amused pity we give the victim of a funny if somewhat ill-natured practical joke.
"Oh hang it," he exclaimed--in no logical connection with what he had been relating to me.

Nevertheless the exclamation was intelligible enough.
However at first there were, he admitted, no untoward complications, no embarrassing consequences.

To a telegram in guarded terms dispatched to de Barral no answer was received for more than twenty-four hours.

This certainly caused the Fynes some anxiety.

When the answer arrived late on the evening of next day it was in the shape of an elderly man.