Chapter 45 Chapter Forty-Three

André Vernet, head of the Paris branch of the Zurich Savings Bank, lives in a luxurious apartment on the top floor of the bank.Although his house was stately, he had always dreamed of owning a residence on the St. Louis River.There he can sit down and chat with people, instead of facing the rich people who are full of copper stench here every day. When I retire, Weil thought, I'll fill my cellar with good Bordeaux, decorate my living room with Fragonard or Boucher, and spend my days scouring antique furniture and the Latin Quarter. precious books. Vernet hurried through the bank's underpass six minutes after waking up.He still looks fresh, as if his personal tailor and hairstylist have groomed him to perfection.He was wearing a smart silk suit, and as he walked, he sprayed some breath freshener into his mouth and tightened his tie.Frequently woken up suddenly at night to meet foreign clients from other time zones, Vernet had developed the sleeping habits of Massa soldiers - those African tribes capable of waking up seconds before going into battle and famous. "The battle has begun." Vernet thought, but felt that this metaphor might not be the right one to describe what happened tonight.While the visit of every golden key client requires a little extra attention, the arrival of a wanted client is truly something out of the ordinary.Banks have repeatedly sparred with law enforcement over customers' privacy rights without evidence that customers are criminals.

"Give me five minutes," Weil thought to himself, "I want these people to get out of the bank before the police come." If he acted fast enough, his bank could neatly avoid the disaster in front of it.Vernet could tell the police that the two fugitives who were forced to investigate did enter the bank, but because they were not customers of the bank and did not have an account, they were kicked out.He wished the damn guard hadn't called Interpol.A guard who is paid only 15 euros per hour obviously does not know that there is also the word "judgment". He stopped at the door, took a deep breath, and relaxed all the muscles in his body.Then, with a big smile on his face, he opened the door and floated away like a warm breeze.

"Good evening," he said, his eyes searching for his client. "I'm Andre Vernet, I can help you..." The second half of the words got stuck in his throat.The woman in front of him was the most unexpected visitor he had ever had in his life. "Excuse me, have we met before?" Sophie asked.She didn't know this person at all, but his expression just now seemed like he saw a ghost. "No..." the president stammered, "I don't think... no. Our business is anonymous." He took a deep breath, forced a calm smile, and said, "My assistant told me Said you have a golden key but no account number, yes? So, may I know how you got this key?"

"Grandfather gave it to me," Sophie replied, her eyes fixed on him. He looked even more disturbed. "Really? Your grandfather gave you the key without telling you the account number?" "I don't think he got in time," said Sophie. "He was murdered tonight." Hearing this, the man took a few steps back. "Jacques Saunière is dead?" he asked aloud, his eyes full of terror. "But... what's going on here?" Sophie was taken aback, and also took a few steps back, trembling all over. "You knew my grandfather?" André Vernet was also shocked.He leaned against the corner of the table and said, "Jacques and I are good friends. When did he die?"

"Early tonight. At the Louvre." Vernet walked to a wide leather chair and sank into it.He looked at Langdon, then at Sophie, and asked, "I have a very important question for you. Were any of you involved in his death?" "No!" cried Sophie, "absolutely not." Vernet looked serious, paused for a moment, and said thoughtfully: "Your photos have been posted by Interpol. That's why I recognized you just now. You are wanted for murder." Sophie's heart sank.Has Fache notified Interpol? He seemed to be pushing harder than Sophie expected.She briefly explained to Vernet who Langdon was and what happened at the Louvre tonight.

Vernet was astonished. "When your grandfather was dying, he left a signal for you to go to Mr. Langdon?" "Yes. And this key." Sophie put the golden key on the coffee table in front of Vernet, deliberately making the side with the Priory logo face down. Vernet glanced at the key, but did not touch it. "He left you this key? Nothing else? No note or anything?" Sophie knew she was in a hurry at the Louvre, but she was sure there was nothing behind the Madonna of the Rocks but this key. "No. Only this key." Vernet sighed helplessly: "It's a pity. Each key is matched with a ten-digit account number as a password. Without an account number, your key is worthless."

Ten digits! Sophie reluctantly calculated the possibility of cracking that code.There are more than 10 billion possibilities.Even if she brought the most powerful parallel computer in the police station, it would take several weeks to crack the code. "Of course, sir, in view of the current situation, you will help us." "Sorry. I really can't help. Customers choose their account numbers through a secure computer, which means that only the computer and the customer know the account number. This is one way we ensure that customers can conduct business anonymously. Also, this It is also done for the safety of our employees.”

Sophie totally understood.Convenience stores do the same.Employees are not allowed to take the key to the safe! This bank obviously won't let someone who stole the key take an employee hostage to ask for the account number. Sitting next to Langdon, Sophie looked down at the key and up at Vernet. "What do you think my grandfather put in your bank?" "Know nothing. It's called anonymous banking." "Monsieur Vernet," she insisted, "our time here tonight is limited. Let me be straight." She picked up the golden key and turned it over, revealing the emblem of the Priory.Looking into Vernet's eyes, she asked: "Does the marking on this key mean anything to you?"

Vernet looked down at the French lily without responding. "Nothing. But many of our clients have their club's logo or initials engraved on their keys." Sophie sighed, but she kept her eyes on Vernet. "This seal is the symbol of a secret organization called the Priory." Still Vernet didn't respond. "I don't know anything about it. Your grandfather and I were really good friends, but we spent most of our time discussing business matters." He straightened his tie with a hint of uneasiness. "Mr. Vernet," insisted Sophie, "my grandfather called me tonight and said he and I were in extreme danger. He said something had to be given to me. He gave me your bank's A key. Now he's dead. Any leads you have would be helpful."

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Vernet said, "We have to leave the building. I'm afraid the police will be here soon. The guards did their job and called Interpol." Sophie was indeed afraid, but she made one last effort. "Grandpa said he was going to tell me the truth about my family. Do you know anything?" "Miss, your family died in a car accident when you were a child. I'm sorry. I know your grandfather loved you very much. He mentioned to me many times how painful it was for him that your relationship broke down." Sophie didn't know how to answer.

Langdon asked, "Does anything saved with this account have anything to do with the Holy Grail?" Vernet gave him a curious look. "I don't know what that is." At this moment, Vernet's cell phone rang.He took the phone off his belt. "Hello?" He looked a little surprised, and then became very concerned. "Police? So fast?" He cursed a few words, quickly issued a few orders in French, and then told the other party that he would go to the lobby soon. He hung up and turned to Sophie. "The police moved faster than usual. They came here while we were talking here." Sophie didn't want to leave here empty-handed. "Tell them we've been here and gone. If they want to search the bank, ask them for a warrant. It'll take them a while to get a warrant." "Listen," said Vernet, "Jacques It's my friend and my bank doesn't allow the police to do that. I won't allow them to arrest you in my building. Give me a minute and I'll find a way to get you out of here quietly. Other than that, I'm sorry I can't do anything." He stood up and walked quickly to the door. "Stay here. I'll make some arrangements and be right back." "But what about the safe?" cried Sophie. "We can't just leave like this." "There's nothing I can do, sorry," said Vernet, hurrying out the door. Sophie watched his back disappear from the door, and thought that the account number might be in the countless letters and packages that her grandfather had sent her over the years, but she hadn't opened any of them! Langdon stood up abruptly.Sophie felt an inexplicably happy gleam in his eyes. "Robert! What are you laughing at?" "Your grandfather was a genius." "Sorry, what did you say?" "Ten digits?" Sophie had no idea what he was talking about. He grinned to one side, showing a familiar smile, "Account number! I'm sure he left us the account number." "Where?" Langdon took out the computer printout of the crime scene and spread it on the coffee table.It took Sophie just one look to tell that Langdon was right. 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 Ah, cruel devil! O lame saint! P． S． : Find Robert Langdon.