He pulled out a watch and scanned it by the light of the candle.
"Psst, Durrell; we are due to show our first flash in five minutes. Where's the lamp? Hurry, hurry!"
Durrell went to a cupboard in the wall, and brought out a brass lamp fitted with an Argand burner. He set it on the table, lit it, and turned the wick up cautiously.
"Will they be out to-night? It's rough."
"So much the better. Jerome is no fair-weather smuggler. You had better put two or three of your precious books under the lamp. I will work the curtain."
Durrell busied himself with the lamp, and De Rothan walked to the window. He kept his watch in one hand, and held the bottom of one of the black curtains with the other.
There was a short silence. Then De Rothan glanced sharply at the scholar.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
De Rothan drew the curtain aside, and left the window uncovered for about twenty seconds.