The watchers could only see his form indistinctly in the darkness.
Then, being fairly within the cellar, he walked without the least hesitation to the electric switch and turned on the light.

It was unmistakably Jules, and he knew the geography of the cellar very well.
Babylon could with difficulty repress a start as he saw this bold and unscrupulous ex-waiter moving with such an air of assurance and determination about the precious cellar.

Jules went directly to a small bin which was numbered 17, and took there from the topmost bottle.
'The Romanee-Conti--Prince Eugen's wine!' Babylon exclaimed under his breath.
Jules neatly and quickly removed the seal with an instrument which he had clearly brought for the purpose.

He then took a little flat box from his pocket, which seemed to contain a sort of black salve.

Rubbing his finger in this, he smeared the top of the neck of the bottle with it, just where the cork came against the glass.