danbrown.thedavincicode-第52章

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　gray　stone　facing　illuminated　by　outside　spotlights。　The　coarse　facade　stood　in　stark　juxtaposition　to　the　immaculately　landscaped　gardens　and　glassy　pond。
　The　inside　lights　were　just　now　ing　on。
　Rather　than　driving　to　the　front　door；　Langdon　pulled　into　a　parking　area　nestled　in　the　evergreens。　〃No　reason　to　risk　being　spotted　from　the　road；〃　he　said。　〃Or　having　Leigh　wonder　why　we　arrived　in　a　wrecked　armored　truck。〃
　Sophie　nodded。　〃What　do　we　do　with　the　cryptex？　We　probably　shouldn't　leave　it　out　here；　but　if　Leigh　sees　it；　he'll　certainly　want　to　know　what　it　is。〃
　〃Not　to　worry；〃　Langdon　said；　removing　his　jacket　as　he　stepped　out　of　the　car。　He　wrapped　the　tweed　coat　around　the　box　and　held　the　bundle　in　his　arms　like　a　baby。
　Sophie　looked　dubious。　〃Subtle。〃
　〃Teabing　never　answers　his　own　door；　he　prefers　to　make　an　entrance。　I'll　find　somewhere　inside　to　stash　this　before　he　joins　us。〃　Langdon　paused。　〃Actually；　I　should　probably　warn　you　before　you　meet　him。　Sir　Leigh　has　a　sense　of　humor　that　people　often　find　a　bit。。。　strange。〃
　Sophie　doubted　anything　tonight　would　strike　her　as　strange　anymore。
　The　pathway　to　the　main　entrance　was　hand…laid　cobblestone。　It　curved　to　a　door　of　carved　oak　and　cherry　with　a　brass　knocker　the　size　of　a　grapefruit。　Before　Sophie　could　grasp　the　knocker；　the　door　swung　open　from　within。
　A　prim　and　elegant　butler　stood　before　them；　making　final　adjustments　on　the　white　tie　and　tuxedo　he　had　apparently　just　donned。　He　looked　to　be　about　fifty；　with　refined　features　and　an　austere　expression　that　left　little　doubt　he　was　unamused　by　their　presence　here。
　〃Sir　Leigh　will　be　down　presently；〃　he　declared；　his　accent　thick　French。　〃He　is　dressing。　He　prefers　not　to　greet　visitors　while　wearing　only　a　nightshirt。　May　I　take　your　coat？〃　He　scowled　at　the　bunched…up　tweed　in　Langdon's　arms。
　〃Thank　you；　I'm　fine。〃
　〃Of　course　you　are。　Right　this　way；　please。〃
　The　butler　guided　them　through　a　lush　marble　foyer　into　an　exquisitely　adorned　drawing　room；　softly　lit　by　tassel…draped　Victorian　lamps。　The　air　inside　smelled　antediluvian；　regal　somehow；　with　traces　of　pipe　tobacco；　tea　leaves；　cooking　sherry；　and　the　earthen　aroma　of　stone　architecture。　Against　the　far　wall；　flanked　between　two　glistening　suits　of　chain　mail　armor；　was　a　rough…hewn　fireplace　large　enough　to　roast　an　ox。　Walking　to　the　hearth；　the　butler　knelt　and　touched　a　match　to　a　pre…laid　arrangement　of　oak　logs　and　kindling。　A　fire　quickly　crackled　to　life。
　The　man　stood；　straightening　his　jacket。　〃His　master　requests　that　you　make　yourselves　at　home。〃　With　that；　he　departed；　leaving　Langdon　and　Sophie　alone。
　Sophie　wondered　which　of　the　fireside　antiques　she　was　supposed　to　sit　on…the　Renaissance　velvet　divan；　the　rustic　eagle…claw　rocker；　or　the　pair　of　stone　pews　that　looked　like　they'd　been　lifted　from　some　Byzantine　temple。
　Langdon　unwrapped　the　cryptex　from　his　coat；　walked　to　the　velvet　divan；　and　slid　the　wooden　box　deep　underneath　it；　well　out　of　sight。　Then；　shaking　out　his　jacket；　he　put　it　back　on；　smoothed　the　lapels；　and　smiled　at　Sophie　as　he　sat　down　directly　over　the　stashed　treasure。
　The　divan　it　is；　Sophie　thought；　taking　a　seat　beside　him。
　As　she　stared　into　the　growing　fire；　enjoying　the　warmth；　Sophie　had　the　sensation　that　her　grandfather　would　have　loved　this　room。　The　dark　wood　paneling　was　bedecked　with　Old　Master　paintings；　one　of　which　Sophie　recognized　as　a　Poussin；　her　grandfather's　second…favorite　painter。　On　the　mantel　above　the　fireplace；　an　alabaster　bust　of　Isis　watched　over　the　room。
　Beneath　the　Egyptian　goddess；　inside　the　fireplace；　two　stone　gargoyles　served　as　andirons；　their　mouths　gaping　to　reveal　their　menacing　hollow　throats。　Gargoyles　had　always　terrified　Sophie　as　a　child；　that　was；　until　her　grandfather　cured　her　of　the　fear　by　taking　her　atop　Notre　Dame　Cathedral　in　a　rainstorm。　〃Princess；　look　at　these　silly　creatures；〃　he　had　told　her；　pointing　to　the　gargoyle　rainspouts　with　their　mouths　gushing　water。　〃Do　you　hear　that　funny　sound　in　their　throats？〃　Sophie　nodded；　having　to　smile　at　the　burping　sound　of　the　water　gurgling　through　their　throats。　〃They're　gargling；〃　her　grandfather　told　her。　〃Gargariser！　And　that's　where　they　get　the　silly　name　'gargoyles。'　〃　Sophie　had　never　again　been　afraid。
　The　fond　memory　caused　Sophie　a　pang　of　sadness　as　the　harsh　reality　of　the　murder　gripped　her　again。　Grand…père　is　gone。　She　pictured　the　cryptex　under　the　divan　and　wondered　if　Leigh　Teabing　would　have　any　idea　how　to　open　it。　Or　if　we　even　should　ask　him。　Sophie's　grandfather's　final　words　had　instructed　her　to　find　Robert　Langdon。　He　had　said　nothing　about　involving　anyone　else。　We　needed　somewhere　to　hide；　Sophie　said；　deciding　to　trust　Robert's　judgment。
　〃Sir　Robert！〃　a　voice　bellowed　somewhere　behind　them。　〃I　see　you　travel　with　a　maiden。〃
　Langdon　stood　up。　Sophie　jumped　to　her　feet　as　well。　The　voice　had　e　from　the　top　of　a　curled　staircase　that　snaked　up　to　the　shadows　of　the　second　floor。　At　the　top　of　the　stairs；　a　form　moved　in　the　shadows；　only　his　silhouette　visible。
　〃Good　evening；〃　Langdon　called　up。　〃Sir　Leigh；　may　I　present　Sophie　Neveu。〃
　〃An　honor。〃　Teabing　moved　into　the　light。
　〃Thank　you　for　having　us；〃　Sophie　said；　now　seeing　the　man　wore　metal　leg　braces　and　used　crutches。　He　was　ing　down　one　stair　at　a　time。　〃I　realize　it's　quite　late。〃
　〃It　is　so　late；　my　dear；　it's　early。〃　He　laughed。　〃Vous　n'êtes　pas　Américaine？〃
　Sophie　shook　her　head。　〃Parisienne。〃
　〃Your　English　is　superb。〃
　〃Thank　you。　I　studied　at　the　Royal　Holloway。〃
　〃So　then；　that　explains　it。〃　Teabing　hobbled　lower　through　the　shadows。　〃Perhaps　Robert　told　you　I　schooled　just　down　the　road　at　Oxford。〃　Teabing　fixed　Langdon　with　a　devilish　smile。　〃Of　course；　I　also　applied　to　Harvard　as　my　safety　school。〃
　Their　host　arrived　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　appearing　to　Sophie　no　more　like　a　knight　than　Sir　Elton　John。　Portly　and　ruby…faced；　Sir　Leigh　Teabing　had　bushy　red　hair　and　jovial　hazel　eyes　that　seemed　to　twinkle　as　he　spoke。　He　wore　pleated　pants　and　a　roomy　silk　shirt　under　a　paisley　vest。　Despite　the　aluminum　braces　on　his　legs；　he　carried　himself　with　a　resilient；　vertical　dignity　that　seemed　more　a　by…product　of　noble　ancestry　than　any　kind　of　conscious　effort。
　Teabing　arrived　and　extended　a　hand　to　Langdon。　〃Robert；　you've　lost　weight。〃
　Langdon　grinned。　〃And　you've　found　some。〃
　Teabing　laughed　heartily；　patting　his　rotund　belly。　〃Touché。　My　only　carnal　pleasures　these　days　seem　to　be　culinary。〃　Turning　now　to　Sophie；　he　gently　took　her　hand；　bowing　his　head　slightly；　breathing　lightly　on　her　fingers；　and　diverting　his　eyes。　〃M'lady。〃
　Sophie　glanced　at　Langdon；　uncertain　whether　she'd　stepped　back　in　time　or　into　a　nuthouse。
　The　butler　who　had　answered　the　door　now　entered　carrying　a　tea　service；　which　he　arranged　on　a　table　in　front　of　the　fireplace。
　〃This　is　Rémy　Legaludec；〃　Teabing　said；　〃my　manservant。〃
　The　slender　butler　gave　a　stiff　nod　and　disappeared　yet　again。
　〃Rémy　is　Lyonais；〃　Teabing　whispered；　as　if　it　were　an　unfortunate　disease。　〃But　he　does　sauces　quite　nicely。〃
　Langdon　looked　amused。　〃I　would　have　thought　you'd　import　an　English　staff？〃
　〃Good　heavens；　no！　I　would　not　wish　a　British　chef　on　anyone　except　the　French　tax　collectors。〃　He　glanced　over　at　Sophie。　〃Pardonnez…moi；　Mademoiselle　Neveu。　Please　be　assured　that　my　distaste　for　the　French　extends　only　to　politics　and　the　soccer　pitch。　Your　government　steals　my　money；　and　your　football　squad　recently　humiliated　us。〃
　Sophie　offered　an　easy　smile。
　Teabing　eyed　her　a　moment　and　then　looked　at　Langdon。　〃Something　has　happened。　You　both　look　shaken。〃
　Langdon　nodded。　〃We've　had　an　interesting　night；　Leigh。〃
　〃No　doubt。　You　arrive　on　my　doorstep　unannounced　in　the　middle　of　the　night　speaking　of　the　Grail。　Tell　me；　is　this　indeed　about　the　Grail；　or　did　you　simply　say　that　because　you　know　it　is　the　lone　topic　for　which　I　would　rouse　myself　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃
　A　little　of　both；　Sophie　thought；　picturing　the　cryptex　hidden　beneath　the　couch。
　〃Leigh；〃　Langdon　said；　〃we'd　like　to　talk　to　you　about　the　Prior