You could have heard a pin drop as he stopped for a moment. Two hundred and fifty hearts were thrilled by his words. Every one present, save, possibly, one, wondered what it could be the professor was about to say. Tony was still shooting those fugitive glances across the room, and each time he observed the actions of his comrade he kept repeating to himself:
“Lef knows! He’s in this game, all right. He said he’d do something, and I just reckon he has, all right. Bully for Lef!”
The professor spoke again, and his voice carried to the furthest point in that large room, so that every one could hear what he said.
“I repeat that I have had a shock. I did not believe there could be a student under my charge so dishonorable as to attempt anything so small and mean as this seems. And I am sure that every one here, save the miscreant who is guilty, will agree with me in saying that, when you hear how he planned to take advantage of the rest of you.”
Lef was licking his lips now, and trying hard to hide the grin that seemed to want to creep over his face. He had all the appearance of one who was enjoying a delightful treat, and yet who, for diplomatic reasons, did not want other eyes to note the fact.
“Yesterday afternoon,” continued the Head, slowly, while his eyes roved around the room, “I received the first batch of examination papers from the printers, far in advance of the usual time. I counted them three times, and marked the number on a slip, so that I could always be sure none were missing.”
A half suppressed sigh seemed to pass over the room. Most of the students could begin to guess at what was coming. They understood now what the professor intended to convey when he spoke of every one being cheated by the work of the malefactor.
“Something called me away just then, and I did a very unwise thing—thrust the packet of papers into my desk, and left the latter open; but I never dreamed that any one in this school could be guilty of stealing the questions that mean the promotion of the juniors in this year’s classes.
“I was away about half an hour. Upon returning, something seemed to tell me that my desk had been entered, since things were plainly disturbed. And when I recounted the packet I found just one paper short!”
Again he paused, and the entire assemblage seemed to catch its breath, waiting.