Well, Belle was passing that window---in the dark---and she heard voices down below in the alley.

She wouldn't have thought anything of it, but she heard one of the speakers raise his voice and say, excitedly: 'See here, I did the trick, didn't I?
Ain't Dick Prescott bounced out of school! Ain't he in disgrace! And he'll never get out of it!'" "Then another voice broke in, in a lower tone, but Belle couldn't hear what was said.

She's back in the dark by that open window now," Laura Bentley hurried on, breathlessly.

"The two parties are still there, talking.

It's hardly a minute's run from where you are.