“Not nearly so queer as a great many wills that are made every day,” rejoined Sydney.  “But don’t worry over it, Roy,” he added with a laugh.  “You look as if you had been convicted of some crime.  Remember you haven’t got the money yet, and may not have it for a great many years to come.”

“It isn’t my money, Syd.  It’s to be left to mother.”

“Well, if it hadn’t been for you she wouldn’t have it.  But by the way, you had better get home as soon as you can.  I think mother is inclined to worry about you from what Jess said.  I can stay with the old man as long as it is necessary.”

“And I shan’t say anything about that will, Syd.  I’d rather you wouldn’t either, just yet.”

“No, it is best to keep it as quiet as we can.  It seems strange that the old man should have talked so freely about it as he did.”

The meal was soon finished, and the two starting to enter the bedroom, met the doctor in the doorway.

“He’s in a bad way,” he whispered to Sydney.  “I shall come back again this evening.  Come, Roy, are you going down?  I’ll take you along with me in the carriage.”

“Yes, you’d better go, Roy,” urged Sydney.  “You look worn out.  Tell mother I’ll stay here as long as I’m wanted.”

“Good-by, Mr. Tyler,” said Roy, stepping into the bedroom and extending his hand to the old man.

“Good-by, Roy Pell.  You have made me think better of my kind to-day.  In fact I think you have made a changed man of me.  Would you—­ would you mind coming up to see me to-morrow?”

“No, of course I wouldn’t mind.  I’ll come.  I hope you’ll be better in the morning.  Good-night,” and Roy went off with the doctor.

“Well, Roy,” said the latter, as they drove away, “you are to be congratulated.  You have brought your family into a nice little inheritance if all our miserly old friend says is true.”

“Perhaps it isn’t,” returned Roy, “so please don’t congratulate me or say anything about it just yet.”

Roy was so tired when he got home that he did not give very spirited answers to the questions his family showered upon him.  He went to bed very shortly and was asleep before Rex came to take his place beside him.

All in the household were locked in slumber when Sydney let himself in with his key about eleven.  He did not retire.  He went into the library, got out some law books, and sitting down at the table, appeared as if about to do some work.  But he did not pick up the pen.  He sat there, his head sunk on his chest, with a look of misery on his face that was pitiable to see.

CHAPTER IV

 The twin brothers

The Pells breakfasted early so that Sydney might catch the 7:30 express for the city.  On the morning following the events narrated in the preceding chapter the entire family were gathered at the table with the exception of Rex, who was invariably late, and Sydney himself.