Arsene Lupin got out of his car and walked up the driveway towards the front door. Naturally, it was he who had whisked Joseph Pilfnam and his friend away from the prison, and they were now hiding out in the last place the police would think to look for them - Pilfnam's house.
He strolled into the living room where Pilfnam and the other guy were already seated and Pilfnam's wife was serving them tea and cookies.
"Where did you go?" asked the second guy.
Lupin adjusted his monocle.
"My friends, it has been a long time, but I have finally stolen something precious from Herlock Sholmes and co!"
Well... just co. In the past he had tried to make off with Sholmes' inventions on two occasions. Those failed, he tried to steal his breakfast, his good friend, his partner's fame, his favorite omnibus, his very universe, yet he was trounced at every turn. But now he had done it, he had stolen something from one of them and that was good enough for him!
Lupin placed a jar on the table.
"Inside this jar is a tiny skin cell. Do you know whose skin cell it belongs to? It belongs to the legendary John Phoenix!" he said with an evil grin.
Pilfnam, Mrs. Pilfnam and their guest stared at Lupin blankly. This only made Lupin's grin grow wider and more sinister, for of course these worms wouldn't immediately grasp his genius without having their hand held with a thorough explanation.
"I stole John Phoenix's body cell. Do you know why I stole John Phoenix's body cell? I stole John Phoenix's body cell so that I may use it for my secret project."
And then Lupin donned his new disguise, and his audience finally understood what he meant to do with it.