"Of course it was a very unusual thing for you to get the warning as to what the subject of the examination was to be, but if the professor himself gave the warning——"
"Who would have dreamed," exclaimed Babbitt, "that a rascally student was listening in the chimney!"
"Tut! tut!" exclaimed the dean, "don't use harsh language, professor. I don't think the situation justifies it. According to Merriwell's story, he was in the chimney without any idea of listening to you, and I think any of us who can remember our student days will admit that if we had been in the same position we would have done substantially what he did."
Prof. Babbitt bit his lip. It was not at all pleasant for him to find that Frank had a friend in the dean, who, next to the president, is the highest official in the college.
"All this," he muttered, "doesn't explain the fact that two examination papers were missing!"
"True," answered the dean, "and we shall have to think that over. Merriwell, will you step into the next room for a short time, please?"
Frank obeyed, and he felt certain that he read in the dean's eyes perfect belief in his story.
"It'll come out right somehow," he thought, as he closed the door upon the dean, Babbitt and Mr. Harding.
He could hear their voices in earnest conversation for fully a quarter of an hour. They were doubtless discussing the discovery of the extra paper upon Merriwell's desk, and Frank wondered what conclusion they would come to about it.
Meantime, another event was taking place that led to a solution of the mystery.