def lax(self):
        """
        Returns the legend axes, creating it only on demand by creating a 2"
        by 2" inset axes that has no grid, ticks, spines or face frame (e.g
        is mostly invisible). The legend can then be drawn on this axes.
        """
        if inset_locator is None:
            raise YellowbrickValueError((
                "intercluster distance map legend requires matplotlib 2.0.2 or greater "
                "please upgrade matplotlib or set legend=False on the visualizer"
            ))

        lax = inset_locator.inset_axes(
            self.ax, width=self.legend_size, height=self.legend_size, loc=self.legend_loc
        )

        lax.set_frame_on(False)
        lax.set_facecolor("none")
        lax.grid(False)
        lax.set_xlim(-1.4,1.4)
        lax.set_ylim(-1.4,1.4)
        lax.set_xticks([])
        lax.set_yticks([])

        for name in lax.spines:
            lax.spines[name].set_visible(False)

        return lax