达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第57部分

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Langdon　laughed。　〃Believe　me；　money　is　the　last　thing　this　guy　needs。〃　Leigh　Teabing　was　wealthy　in　the　way　small　countries　were　wealthy。　A　descendant　of　Britain's　First　Duke　of　Lancaster；　Teabing　had　gotten　his　money　the　old…fashioned　way—he'd　inherited　it。　His　estate　outside　of　Paris　was　a　seventeenth…century　palace　with　two　private　lakes。
Langdon　had　first　met　Teabing　several　years　ago　through　the　British　Broadcasting　Corporation。　Teabing　had　approached　the　BBC　with　a　proposal　for　a　historical　documentary　in　which　he　would　expose　the　explosive　history　of　the　Holy　Grail　to　a　mainstream　television　audience。　The　BBC　producers　loved　Teabing's　hot　premise；　his　research；　and　his　credentials；　but　they　had　concerns　that　the　concept　was　so　shocking　and　hard　to　swallow　that　the　network　might　end　up　tarnishing　its　reputation　for　quality　journalism。　At　Teabing's　suggestion；　the　BBC　solved　its　credibility　fears　by　soliciting　three　cameos　from　respected　historians　from　around　the　world；　all　of　whom　corroborated　the　stunning　nature　of　the　Holy　Grail　secret　with　their　own　research。
Langdon　had　been　among　those　chosen。
The　BBC　had　flown　Langdon　to　Teabing's　Paris　estate　for　the　filming。　He　sat　before　cameras　in　Teabing's　opulent　drawing　room　and　shared　his　story；　admitting　his　initial　skepticism　on　hearing　of　the　alternate　Holy　Grail　story；　then　describing　how　years　of　research　had　persuaded　him　that　the　story　was　true。　Finally；　Langdon　offered　some　of　his　own　research—a　series　of　symbologic　connections　that　strongly　supported　the　seemingly　controversial　claims。
When　the　program　aired　in　Britain；　despite　its　ensemble　cast　and　well…documented　evidence；　the　premise　rubbed　so　hard　against　the　grain　of　popular　Christian　thought　that　it　instantly　confronted　a　firestorm　of　hostility。　It　never　aired　in　the　States；　but　the　repercussions　echoed　across　the　Atlantic。　Shortly　afterward；　Langdon　received　a　postcard　from　an　old　friend—the　Catholic　Bishop　of　Philadelphia。　The　card　simply　read：　Et　tu；　Robert？
〃Robert；〃　Sophie　asked；　〃you're　certain　we　can　trust　this　man？〃
〃Absolutely。　We're　colleagues；　he　doesn't　need　money；　and　I　happen　to　know　he　despises　the　French　authorities。　The　French　government　taxes　him　at　absurd　rates　because　he　bought　a　historic　landmark。　He'll　be　in　no　hurry　to　cooperate　with　Fache。〃
Sophie　stared　out　at　the　dark　roadway。　〃If　we　go　to　him；　how　much　do　you　want　to　tell　him？〃
Langdon　looked　unconcerned。　〃Believe　me；　Leigh　Teabing　knows　more　about　the　Priory　of　Sion　and　the　Holy　Grail　than　anyone　on　earth。〃
Sophie　eyed　him。　〃More　than　my　grandfather？〃
〃I　meant　more　than　anyone　outside　the　brotherhood。〃
〃How　do　you　know　Teabing　isn't　a　member　of　the　brotherhood？〃
〃Teabing　has　spent　his　life　trying　to　broadcast　the　truth　about　the　Holy　Grail。　The　Priory's　oath　is　to　keep　its　true　nature　hidden。〃
〃Sounds　to　me　like　a　conflict　of　interest。〃
Langdon　understood　her　concerns。　Saunière　had　given　the　cryptex　directly　to　Sophie；　and　although　she　didn't　know　what　it　contained　or　what　she　was　supposed　to　do　with　it；　she　was　hesitant　to　involve　a　total　stranger。　Considering　the　information　potentially　enclosed；　the　instinct　was　probably　a　good　one。　〃We　don't　need　to　tell　Teabing　about　the　keystone　immediately。　Or　at　all；　even。　His　house　will　give　us　a　place　to　hide　and　think；　and　maybe　when　we　talk　to　him　about　the　Grail；　you'll　start　to　have　an　idea　why　your　grandfather　gave　this　to　you。〃
〃Us；〃　Sophie　reminded。
Langdon　felt　a　humble　pride　and　wondered　yet　again　why　Saunière　had　included　him。
〃Do　you　know　more　or　less　where　Mr。　Teabing　lives？〃　Sophie　asked。
〃His　estate　is　called　Chateau　Villette。〃
Sophie　turned　with　an　incredulous　look。　〃The　Chateau　Villette？〃
〃That's　the　one。〃
〃Nice　friends。〃
〃You　know　the　estate？〃
〃I've　passed　it。　It's　in　the　castle　district。　Twenty　minutes　from　here。〃
Langdon　frowned。　〃That　far？〃
〃Yes；　which　will　give　you　enough　time　to　tell　me　what　the　Holy　Grail　really　is。〃
Langdon　paused。　〃I'll　tell　you　at　Teabing's。　He　and　I　specialize　in　different　areas　of　the　legend；　so　between　the　two　of　us；　you'll　get　the　full　story。〃　Langdon　smiled。　〃Besides；　the　Grail　has　been　Teabing's　life；　and　hearing　the　story　of　the　Holy　Grail　from　Leigh　Teabing　will　be　like　hearing　the　theory　of　relativity　from　Einstein　himself。〃
〃Let's　hope　Leigh　doesn't　mind　late…night　visitors。〃
〃For　the　record；　it's　Sir　Leigh。〃　Langdon　had　made　that　mistake　only　once。　〃Teabing　is　quite　a　character。　He　was　knighted　by　the　Queen　several　years　back　after　posing　an　extensive　history　on　the　House　of　York。〃
Sophie　looked　over。　〃You're　kidding；　right？　We're　going　to　visit　a　knight？〃
Langdon　gave　an　awkward　smile。　〃We're　on　a　Grail　quest；　Sophie。　Who　better　to　help　us　than　a　knight？〃
　
CHAPTER　52

The　Sprawling　185…acre　estate　of　Chateau　Villette　was　located　twenty…five　minutes　northwest　of　Paris　in　the　environs　of　Versailles。　Designed　by　Fran？ois　Mansart　in　1668　for　the　Count　of　Aufflay；　it　was　one　of　Paris's　most　significant　historical　chateaux。　plete　with　two　rectangular　lakes　and　gardens　designed　by　Le　N？tre；　Chateau　Villette　was　more　of　a　modest　castle　than　a　mansion。　The　estate　fondly　had　bee　known　as　la　Petite　Versailles。
Langdon　brought　the　armored　truck　to　a　shuddering　stop　at　the　foot　of　the　mile…long　driveway。　Beyond　the　imposing　security　gate；　Sir　Leigh　Teabing's　residence　rose　on　a　meadow　in　the　distance。　The　sign　on　the　gate　was　in　English：　PRIVATE　PROPERTY。　NO　TRESPASSING。
As　if　to　proclaim　his　home　a　British　Isle　unto　itself；　Teabing　had　not　only　posted　his　signs　in　English；　but　he　had　installed　his　gate's　inter　entry　system　on　the　right…hand　side　of　the　truck—the　passenger's　side　everywhere　in　Europe　except　England。
Sophie　gave　the　misplaced　inter　an　odd　look。　〃And　if　someone　arrives　without　a　passenger？〃
〃Don't　ask。〃　Langdon　had　already　been　through　that　with　Teabing。　〃He　prefers　things　the　way　they　are　at　home。〃
Sophie　rolled　down　her　window。　〃Robert；　you'd　better　do　the　talking。〃
Langdon　shifted　his　position；　leaning　out　across　Sophie　to　press　the　inter　button。　As　he　did；　an　alluring　whiff　of　Sophie's　perfume　filled　his　nostrils；　and　he　realized　how　close　they　were。　He　waited　there；　awkwardly　prone；　while　a　telephone　began　ringing　over　the　small　speaker。
Finally；　the　inter　crackled　and　an　irritated　French　accent　spoke。　〃Chateau　Villette。　Who　is　calling？〃
〃This　is　Robert　Langdon；〃　Langdon　called　out；　sprawled　across　Sophie's　lap。　〃I'm　a　friend　of　Sir　Leigh　Teabing。　I　need　his　help。〃
〃My　master　is　sleeping。　As　was　I。　What　is　your　business　with　him？〃
〃It　is　a　private　matter。　One　of　great　interest　to　him。〃
〃Then　I'm　sure　he　will　be　pleased　to　receive　you　in　the　morning。〃
Langdon　shifted　his　weight。　〃It's　quite　important。〃
〃As　is　Sir　Leigh's　sleep。　If　you　are　a　friend；　then　you　are　aware　he　is　in　poor　health。〃
Sir　Leigh　Teabing　had　suffered　from　polio　as　a　child　and　now　wore　leg　braces　and　walked　with　crutches；　but　Langdon　had　found　him　such　a　lively　and　colorful　man　on　his　last　visit　that　it　hardly　seemed　an　infirmity。　〃If　you　would；　please　tell　him　I　have　uncovered　new　information　about　the　Grail。　Information　that　cannot　wait　until　morning。〃
There　was　a　long　pause。
Langdon　and　Sophie　waited；　th