Soon after this Jack began to listen for suspicious noises. Nothing did he hear but children's voices in the distance ringing shrill, and the rumble of an occasional cart, and the soft cooing of pigeons not far off. But through these was another sound; footsteps coming nearer and nearer. It seemed that they paused, then crunched on the gravel, then were muffled, then again were louder and with them mingled low, deep voices. These voices certainly were in Mr Corbet's house.