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If that is indeed what this is....
Against the hum of the bulletproof wheels beneath them, Langdon quickly explained to Sophie
everything he had heard about the keystone. Allegedly, for centuries, the Priory's biggest
secret—the location of the Holy Grail—was never written down. For security's sake, it was
verbally transferred to each new rising sénéchal at a clandestine ceremony. However, at some point
during the last century, whisperings began to surface that the Priory policy had changed. Perhaps it
was on account of new electronic eavesdropping capabilities, but the Priory vowed never again
even to speak the location of the sacred hiding place.
"But then how could they pass on the secret?" Sophie asked.
"That's where the keystone comes in," Langdon explained. "When one of the top four members
died, the remaining three would choose from the lower echelons the next candidate to ascend as
sénéchal. Rather than telling the new sénéchal where the Grail was hidden, they gave him a test
through which he could prove he was worthy."
Sophie looked unsettled by this, and Langdon suddenly recalled her mentioning how her
grandfather used to make treasure hunts for her—preuves de mérite. Admittedly, the keystone was
a similar concept. Then again, tests like this were extremely common in secret societies. The best
known was the Masons', wherein members ascended to higher degrees by proving they could keep
a secret and by performing rituals and various tests of merit over many years. The tasks became
progressively harder until they culminated in a successful candidate's induction as thirty-second-
degree Mason.
"So the keystone is a preuve de mérite," Sophie said. "If a rising Priory sénéchal can open it, he
proves himself worthy of the information it holds."
Langdon nodded. "I forgot you'd had experience with this sort of thing."
"Not only with my grandfather. In cryptology, that's called a 'self-authorizing language.' That is, if
you're smart enough to read it, you're permitted to know what is being said."
Langdon hesitated a moment. "Sophie, you realize that if this is indeed the keystone, your
grandfather's access to it implies he was exceptionally powerful within the Priory of Sion. He
would have to have been one of the highest four members."
Sophie sighed. "He was powerful in a secret society. I'm certain of it. I can only assume it was the
Priory."
Langdon did a double take. "You knew he was in a secret society?"
"I saw some things I wasn't supposed to see ten years ago. We haven't spoken since." She paused.
"My grandfather was not only a ranking top member of the group... I believe he was the top
member."
Langdon could not believe what she had just said. "Grand Master? But... there's no way you could
know that!"
"I'd rather not talk about it." Sophie looked away, her expression as determined as it was pained.
Langdon sat in stunned silence. Jacques Saunière? Grand Master? Despite the astonishing
repercussions if it were true, Langdon had the eerie sensation it almost made perfect sense. After
all, previous Priory Grand Masters had also been distinguished public figures with artistic souls.
Proof of that fact had been uncovered years ago in Paris's Bibliothèque Nationale in papers that
became known as Les Dossiers Secrets.
Every Priory historian and Grail buff had read the Dossiers. Cataloged under Number 4° lm
1
249,
the Dossiers Secrets had been authenticated by many specialists and incontrovertibly confirmed
what historians had suspected for a long time: Priory Grand Masters included Leonardo da Vinci,
Botticelli, Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and, more recently, Jean Cocteau, the famous Parisian
artist.
Why not Jacques Saunière?
Langdon's incredulity intensified with the realization that he had been slated to meet Saunière
tonight. The Priory Grand Master called a meeting with me. Why? To make artistic small talk? It
suddenly seemed unlikely. After all, if Langdon's instincts were correct, the Grand Master of the
Priory of Sion had just transferred the brotherhood's legendary keystone to his granddaughter and
simultaneously commanded her to find Robert Langdon.
Inconceivable!
Langdon's imagination could conjure no set of circumstances that would explain Saunière's
behavior. Even if Saunière feared his own death, there were three sénéchaux who also possessed
the secret and therefore guaranteed the Priory's security. Why would Saunière take such an
enormous risk giving his granddaughter the keystone, especially when the two of them didn't get
along? And why involve Langdon... a total stranger?
A piece of this puzzle is missing, Langdon thought.
The answers were apparently going to have to wait. The sound of the slowing engine caused them
both to look up. Gravel crunched beneath the tires. Why is he pulling over already? Langdon
wondered. Vernet had told them he would take them well outside the city to safety. The truck
decelerated to a crawl and made its way over unexpectedly rough terrain. Sophie shot Langdon an
uneasy look, hastily closing the cryptex box and latching it. Langdon slipped his jacket back on.
When the truck came to a stop, the engine remained idling as the locks on the rear doors began to
turn. When the doors swung open, Langdon was surprised to see they were parked in a wooded
area, well off the road. Vernet stepped into view, a strained look in his eye. In his hand, he held a
pistol.
"I'm sorry about this," he said. "I really have no choice."
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