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Sophie looked dubious。 〃You mean outside； where there are no metal detectors？〃
Langdon scowled。 She had a point。
Gazing back at the orb…filled tomb； Langdon wished he had some idea about the cryptex password。。。 something with which to negotiate。 I got Leigh involved in this； and I'll do whatever it takes if there is a chance to help him。
〃The note says to go through the Chapter House to the south exit；〃 Sophie said。 〃Maybe from the exit we would have a view of the garden？ That way we could assess the situation before we walked out there and exposed ourselves to any danger？〃
The idea was a good one。 Langdon vaguely recalled the Chapter House as a huge octagonal hall where the original British Parliament convened in the days before the modern Parliament building existed。 It had been years since he had been there； but he remembered it being out through the cloister somewhere。 Taking several steps back from the tomb； Langdon peered around the choir screen to his right； across the nave to the side opposite that which they had descended。
A gaping vaulted passageway stood nearby； with a large sign。
THIS WAY TO：
CLOISTERS
DEANERY
COLLEGE HALL
MUSEUM
PYX CHAMBER
ST。 FAITH'S CHAPEL
CHAPTER HOUSE
Langdon and Sophie were jogging as they passed beneath the sign； moving too quickly to notice the small announcement apologizing that certain areas were closed for renovations。
They emerged immediately into a high…walled； open…roof courtyard through which morning rain was falling。 Above them； the wind howled across the opening with a low drone； like someone blowing over the mouth of a bottle。 Entering the narrow； low…hanging walkways that bordered the courtyard perimeter； Langdon felt the familiar uneasiness he always felt in enclosed spaces。 These walkways were called cloisters； and Langdon noted with uneasiness that these particular cloisters lived up to their Latin ties to the word claustrophobic。
Focusing his mind straight ahead toward the end of the tunnel； Langdon followed the signs for the Chapter House。 The rain was spitting now； and the walkway was cold and damp with gusts of rain that blew through the lone pillared wall that was the cloister's only source of light。 Another couple scurried past them the other way； hurrying to get out of the worsening weather。 The cloisters looked deserted now； admittedly the abbey's least enticing section in the wind and rain。
Forty yards down the east cloister； an archway materialized on their left； giving way to another hallway。 Although this was the entrance they were looking for； the opening was cordoned off by a swag and an official…looking sign。
CLOSED FOR RENOVATION
PYX CHAMBER
ST。 FAITH'S CHAPEL
CHAPTER HOUSE
The long； deserted corridor beyond the swag was littered with scaffolding and drop cloths。 Immediately beyond the swag； Langdon could see the entrances to the Pyx Chamber and St。 Faith's Chapel on the right and left。 The entrance to the Chapter House； however； was much farther away； at the far end of the long hallway。 Even from here； Langdon could see that its heavy wooden door was wide open； and the spacious octagonal interior was bathed in a grayish natural light from the room's enormous windows that looked out on College Garden。 Go through Chapter House； out south exit； to public garden。
〃We just left the east cloister；〃 Langdon said； 〃so the south exit to the garden must be through there and to the right。〃
Sophie was already stepping over the swag and moving forward。
As they hurried down the dark corridor； the sounds of the wind and rain from the open cloister faded behind them。 The Chapter House was a kind of satellite structure—a freestanding annex at the end of the long hallway to ensure the privacy of the Parliament proceedings housed there。
〃It looks huge；〃 Sophie whispered as they approached。
Langdon had forgotten just how large this room was。 Even from outside the entrance； he could gaze across the vast expanse of floor to the breathtaking windows on the far side of the octagon； which rose five stories to a vaulted ceiling。 They would certainly have a clear view of the garden from in here。
Crossing the threshold； both Langdon and Sophie found themselves having to squint。 After the gloomy cloisters； the Chapter House felt like a solarium。 They were a good ten feet into the room； searching the south wall； when they realized the door they had been promised was not there。
They were standing in an enormous dead end。
The creaking of a heavy door behind them made them turn； just as the door closed with a resounding thud and the latch fell into place。
The lone man who had been standing behind the door looked calm as he aimed a small revolver at them。 He was portly and was propped on a pair of aluminum crutches。
For a moment Langdon thought he must be dreaming。
It was Leigh Teabing。
CHAPTER 99
Sir Leigh Teabing felt rueful as he gazed out over the barrel of his Medusa revolver at Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu。 〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃since the moment you walked into my home last night； I have done everything in my power to keep you out of harm's way。 But your persistence has now put me in a difficult position。〃
He could see the expressions of shock and betrayal on Sophie's and Langdon's faces； and yet he was confident that soon they would both understand the chain of events that had guided the three of them to this unlikely crossroads。
There is so much I have to tell you both。。。 so much you do not yet understand。
〃Please believe；〃 Teabing said； 〃I never had any intention of your being involved。 You came to my home。 You came searching for me。〃
〃Leigh？〃 Langdon finally managed。 〃What the hell are you doing？ We thought you were in trouble。 We came here to help you！〃
〃As I trusted you would；〃 he said。 〃We have much to discuss。〃
Langdon and Sophie seemed unable to tear their stunned gazes from the revolver aimed at them。
〃It is simply to ensure your full attention；〃 Teabing said。 〃If I had wanted to harm you； you would be dead by now。 When you walked into my home last night； I risked everything to spare your lives。 I am a man of honor； and I vowed in my deepest conscience only to sacrifice those who had betrayed the Sangreal。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 Langdon said。 〃Betrayed the Sangreal？〃
〃I discovered a terrible truth；〃 Teabing said； sighing。 〃I learned why the Sangreal documents were never revealed to the world。 I learned that the Priory had decided not to release the truth after all。 That's why the millennium passed without any revelation； why nothing happened as we entered the End of Days。〃
Langdon drew a breath； about to protest。
〃The Priory；〃 Teabing continued； 〃was given a sacred charge to share the truth。 To release the Sangreal documents when the End of Days arrived。 For centuries； men like Da Vinci； Botticelli； and Newton risked everything to protect the documents and carry out that charge。 And now； at the ultimate moment of truth； Jacques Saunière changed his mind。 The man honored with the greatest responsibility in Christian history eschewed his duty。 He decided the time was not right。〃 Teabing turned to Sophie。 〃He failed the Grail。 He failed the Priory。 And he failed the memory of all the generations that had worked t