达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第48部分

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t　called　Interpol。　Discretion　was　apparently　not　part　of　the　vocabulary　of　a　15…euro…per…hour　watchman。
Stopping　at　the　doorway；　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　loosened　his　muscles。　Then；　forcing　a　balmy　smile；　he　unlocked　the　door　and　swirled　into　the　room　like　a　warm　breeze。
〃Good　evening；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　finding　his　clients。　〃I　am　André　Vernet。　How　can　I　be　of　serv—〃　The　rest　of　the　sentence　lodged　somewhere　beneath　his　Adam's　apple。　The　woman　before　him　was　as　unexpected　a　visitor　as　Vernet　had　ever　had。
　
〃I'm　sorry；　do　we　know　each　other？〃　Sophie　asked。　She　did　not　recognize　the　banker；　but　he　for　a　moment　looked　as　if　he'd　seen　a　ghost。
〃No。。。；〃　the　bank　president　fumbled。　〃I　don't。。。　believe　so。　Our　services　are　anonymous。〃　He　exhaled　and　forced　a　calm　smile。　〃My　assistant　tells　me　you　have　a　gold　key　but　no　account　number？　Might　I　ask　how　you　came　by　this　key？〃
〃My　grandfather　gave　it　to　me；〃　Sophie　replied；　watching　the　man　closely。　His　uneasiness　seemed　more　evident　now。
〃Really？　Your　grandfather　gave　you　the　key　but　failed　to　give　you　the　account　number？〃
〃I　don't　think　he　had　time；〃　Sophie　said。　〃He　was　murdered　tonight。〃
Her　words　sent　the　man　staggering　backward。　〃Jacques　Saunière　is　dead？〃　he　demanded；　his　eyes　filling　with　horror。　〃But。。。　how？！〃
Now　it　was　Sophie　who　reeled；　numb　with　shock。　〃You　knew　my　grandfather？〃
Banker　André　Vernet　looked　equally　astounded；　steadying　himself　by　leaning　on　an　end　table。　〃Jacques　and　I　were　dear　friends。　When　did　this　happen？〃
〃Earlier　this　evening。　Inside　the　Louvre。〃
Vernet　walked　to　a　deep　leather　chair　and　sank　into　it。　〃I　need　to　ask　you　both　a　very　important　question。〃　He　glanced　up　at　Langdon　and　then　back　to　Sophie。　〃Did　either　of　you　have　anything　to　do　with　his　death？〃
〃No！〃　Sophie　declared。　〃Absolutely　not。〃
Vernet's　face　was　grim；　and　he　paused；　pondering。　〃Your　pictures　are　being　circulated　by　Interpol。　This　is　how　I　recognized　you。　You're　wanted　for　a　murder。〃
Sophie　slumped。　Fache　ran　an　Interpol　broadcast　already？　It　seemed　the　captain　was　more　motivated　than　Sophie　had　anticipated。　She　quickly　told　Vernet　who　Langdon　was　and　what　had　happened　inside　the　Louvre　tonight。
Vernet　looked　amazed。　〃And　as　your　grandfather　was　dying；　he　left　you　a　message　telling　you　to　find　Mr。　Langdon？〃
〃Yes。　And　this　key。〃　Sophie　laid　the　gold　key　on　the　coffee　table　in　front　of　Vernet；　placing　the　Priory　seal　face　down。
Vernet　glanced　at　the　key　but　made　no　move　to　touch　it。　〃He　left　you　only　this　key？　Nothing　else？　No　slip　of　paper？〃
Sophie　knew　she　had　been　in　a　hurry　inside　the　Louvre；　but　she　was　certain　she　had　seen　nothing　else　behind　Madonna　of　the　Rocks。　〃No。　Just　the　key。〃
Vernet　gave　a　helpless　sigh。　〃I'm　afraid　every　key　is　electronically　paired　with　a　ten…digit　account　number　that　functions　as　a　password。　Without　that　number；　your　key　is　worthless。〃
Ten　digits。　Sophie　reluctantly　calculated　the　cryptographic　odds。　Over　ten　billion　possible　choices。　Even　if　she　could　bring　in　DCPJ's　most　powerful　parallel　processing　puters；　she　still　would　need　weeks　to　break　the　code。　〃Certainly；　monsieur；　considering　the　circumstances；　you　can　help　us。〃
〃I'm　sorry。　I　truly　can　do　nothing。　Clients　select　their　own　account　numbers　via　a　secure　terminal；　meaning　account　numbers　are　known　only　to　the　client　and　puter。　This　is　one　way　we　ensure　anonymity。　And　the　safety　of　our　employees。〃
Sophie　understood。　Convenience　stores　did　the　same　thing。　EMPLOYEES　DO　NOT　HAVE　KEYS　TO　THE　SAFE。　This　bank　obviously　did　not　want　to　risk　someone　stealing　a　key　and　then　holding　an　employee　hostage　for　the　account　number。
Sophie　sat　down　beside　Langdon；　glanced　down　at　the　key　and　then　up　at　Vernet。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　my　grandfather　is　storing　in　your　bank？〃
〃None　whatsoever。　That　is　the　definition　of　a　Geldschrank　bank。〃
〃Monsieur　Vernet；〃　she　pressed；　〃our　time　tonight　is　short。　I　am　going　to　be　very　direct　if　I　may。〃　She　reached　out　to　the　gold　key　and　flipped　it　over；　watching　the　man's　eyes　as　she　revealed　the　Priory　of　Sion　seal。　〃Does　the　symbol　on　this　key　mean　anything　to　you？〃
Vernet　glanced　down　at　the　fleur…de…lis　seal　and　made　no　reaction。　〃No；　but　many　of　our　clients　emboss　corporate　logos　or　initials　onto　their　keys。〃
Sophie　sighed；　still　watching　him　carefully。　〃This　seal　is　the　symbol　of　a　secret　society　known　as　the　Priory　of　Sion。〃
Vernet　again　showed　no　reaction。　〃I　know　nothing　of　this。　Your　grandfather　was　a　friend；　but　we　spoke　mostly　of　business。〃　The　man　adjusted　his　tie；　looking　nervous　now。
〃Monsieur　Vernet；〃　Sophie　pressed；　her　tone　firm。　〃My　grandfather　called　me　tonight　and　told　me　he　and　I　were　in　grave　danger。　He　said　he　had　to　give　me　something。　He　gave　me　a　key　to　your　bank。　Now　he　is　dead。　Anything　you　can　tell　us　would　be　helpful。〃
Vernet　broke　a　sweat。　〃We　need　to　get　out　of　the　building。　I'm　afraid　the　police　will　arrive　shortly。　My　watchman　felt　obliged　to　call　Interpol。〃
Sophie　had　feared　as　much。　She　took　one　last　shot。　〃My　grandfather　said　he　needed　to　tell　me　the　truth　about　my　family。　Does　that　mean　anything　to　you？〃
〃Mademoiselle；　your　family　died　in　a　car　accident　when　you　were　young。　I'm　sorry。　I　know　your　grandfather　loved　you　very　much。　He　mentioned　to　me　several　times　how　much　it　pained　him　that　you　two　had　fallen　out　of　touch。〃
Sophie　was　uncertain　how　to　respond。
Langdon　asked；　〃Do　the　contents　of　this　account　have　anything　to　do　with　the　Sangreal？〃
Vernet　gave　him　an　odd　look。　〃I　have　no　idea　what　that　is。〃　Just　then；　Vernet's　cell　phone　rang；　and　he　snatched　it　off　his　belt。　〃Oui？〃　He　listened　a　moment；　his　expression　one　of　surprise　and　growing　concern。　〃La　police？　Si　rapidement？〃　He　cursed；　gave　some　quick　directions　in　French；　and　said　he　would　be　up　to　the　lobby　in　a　minute。
Hanging　up　the　phone；　he　turned　back　to　Sophie。　〃The　police　have　responded　far　more　quickly　than　usual。　They　are　arriving　as　we　speak。〃
Sophie　had　no　intention　of　leaving　empty…handed。　〃Tell　them　we　came　and　went　already。　If　they　want　to　search　the　bank；　demand　a　search　warrant。　That　will　take　them　time。〃
〃Listen；〃　Vernet　said；　〃Jacques　was　a　friend；　and　my　bank　does　not　need　this　kind　of　press；　so　for　those　two　reasons；　I　have　no　intention　of　allowing　this　arrest　to　be　made　on　my　premises。　Give　me　a　minute　and　I　will　see　what　I　can　do　to　help　you　leave　the　bank　undetected。　Beyond　that；　I　cannot　get　involved。〃　He　stood　up　and　hurried　for　the　door。　〃Stay　here。　I'll　make　arrangements　and　be　right　back。〃
〃But　the　safe…deposit　box；〃　Sophie　declared。　〃We　can't　just　leave。〃
〃There's　nothing　I　can　do；〃　Vernet　said；　hurrying　out　the　door。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
Sophie　stared　after　him　a　moment；　wondering　if　maybe　the　account　number　was　buried　in　one　of　the　countless　letters　and　packages　her　grandfather　had　sent　her　over　the　years　and　which　she　had　left　unopened。
Langdon　stood　suddenly；　and　Sophie　sensed　an　unexpected　glimmer　of　contentment　in　his　eyes。
〃Robert？　You're　smiling。〃
〃Your　grandfather　was　a　genius。〃
〃I'm　sorry？〃
〃Ten　digits？〃
Sophie　had　no　idea　what　he　was　talking　about。
〃The　account　number；〃　he　said；　a　familiar　lopsided　grin　now　craning　his　face。　〃I'm　pretty　sure　he　left　it　for　us　after　all。〃
〃Where？〃
Langdon　produced　the