Perhaps it was a real anxiety that was preying on Syd’s mind.  Very likely something connected with his parentage.

Roy had not thought of this before.  He was about to suggest it to relieve his brother’s mind when he looked up and saw that Rex was asleep.

Then he glanced at the clock on the bureau and saw that it pointed to five minutes to eleven.

“I’ll let him sleep on now,” he decided, “or he’ll be sure to be around when we go, and I’m sure Syd doesn’t want him to know.”

Roy went across the hall to his elder brother’s room.

He found him sitting on the side of the bed, looking very pale.

“I guess you’ll have to help me dress, Roy,” he said with a sorry sort of smile.

“Perhaps you’d better send a telegram,” Roy rejoined.  “There won’t be any handwriting to recognize on that.”

“No, no, I must go myself.  You will understand some day, very soon, why I feel this way, and then, Roy, you may pity me and forgive me if you can.”

Roy thought of his brother’s theory.  Sydney’s talk was very strange, but not stranger than this midnight proceeding.  Well, he would wait until he had seen this last through before deciding whether or not he ought to report to his mother.

He helped Sydney on with his clothes, then went to the window to see if the carriage was there.  He saw it standing in the glare of a street lamp.  It was just half past eleven.  He started to his own room to get his coat.

“Be careful to make no noise, Roy,” Sydney cautioned him.

But when Roy entered his own apartment, there was Rex sitting up on the bed, rubbing his eyes.

Roy hoped he would go at once to his room, but he began to talk about the strangeness of his having fallen asleep in that way, and then when he saw what time it was, wanted to know why Roy hadn’t gone to bed.

“How could I when you were in the way?” Roy answered smilingly, and just then Sydney called to him softly from down the hall, “Roy, aren’t you coming?”

There was no help for it.  Roy went to the closet and took down his overcoat.

“Why, where are you going this time of night, Roy Pell?” demanded Rex.

“Just out for a little while; good night, old fellow.  You’d better go straight to bed.”

“But look here, Roy.”  Rex was following him out into the hall.  “This is mighty queer, your going off this way.  Does mother know about it?”

Rex ceased abruptly.  He had come face to face with Sydney, all dressed for the street.

“Reggie, what are you doing up?” Sydney asked, and to Rex his voice sounded cold and stern.

“I fell asleep on Roy’s bed.  But where are you two going?  You’re not fit to be out of bed, Syd,” as the latter reeled and made a quick clutch at the bannisters.

“Rex, help me down stairs with him and don’t make any noise.”  Roy spoke in an authoritative tone, and Rex meekly obeyed.