c. any rough urban area that has a great deal of poverty and crime
Explanation:
"The Street" as used in this context is usually used to describe a poor ghetto-like area where all manner of crime are carried out. It is regarded as a breeding place for criminals. From the above excerpt, we can gather that professional criminals who are never easily caught and who easily get information at their fingertips are found in the Street.
"The Leak" is a detective tale by Jacques Futrelle. His lead investigator is Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen who is known as The Thinking Machine. Professor Dusen comes in to assist a businessman who is suffering the risk of his high-valued deals because of the presence of a spy in his office. His secrets seem to be exposed to the unknown spy thereby making him vulnerable.
Jacques Futrelle was an American who was very known for journalism and mystery writing. Also, he is well-known for writing detective stories. Futrelle passed away during the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
