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〃Very well； let me see this mysterious verse。〃 She unrolled the papyrus and read the poem aloud in a deliberate tone。
The Holy Grail 'neath ancient Roslin waits。
The blade and chalice guarding o'er Her gates。
Adorned in masters' loving art； She lies。
She rests at last beneath the starry skies。
When she finished； she was still for several seconds； until a knowing smile crossed her lips。 〃Aah； Jacques。〃
Langdon watched her expectantly。 〃You understand this？〃
〃As you have witnessed on the chapel floor； Mr。 Langdon； there are many ways to see simple things。〃
Langdon strained to understand。 Everything about Jacques Saunière seemed to have double meanings； and yet Langdon could see no further。
Marie gave a tired yawn。 〃Mr。 Langdon； I will make a confession to you。 I have never officially been privy to the present location of the Grail。 But； of course； I was married to a person of enormous influence。。。 and my women's intuition is strong。〃 Langdon started to speak but Marie continued。 〃I am sorry that after all your hard work； you will be leaving Rosslyn without any real answers。 And yet； something tells me you will eventually find what you seek。 One day it will dawn on you。〃 She smiled。 〃And when it does； I trust that you； of all people； can keep a secret。〃
There was a sound of someone arriving in the doorway。 〃Both of you disappeared；〃 Sophie said； entering。
〃I was just leaving；〃 her grandmother replied； walking over to Sophie at the door。 〃Good night； princess。〃 She kissed Sophie's forehead。 〃Don't keep Mr。 Langdon out too late。〃
Langdon and Sophie watched her grandmother walk back toward the fieldstone house。 When Sophie turned to him； her eyes were awash in deep emotion。 〃Not exactly the ending I expected。〃
That makes two of us； he thought。 Langdon could see she was overwhelmed。 The news she had received tonight had changed everything in her life。 〃Are you okay？ It's a lot to take in。〃
She smiled quietly。 〃I have a family。 That's where I'm going to start。 Who we are and where we came from will take some time。〃
Langdon remained silent。
〃Beyond tonight； will you stay with us？〃 Sophie asked。 〃At least for a few days？〃
Langdon sighed； wanting nothing more。 〃You need some time here with your family； Sophie。 I'm going back to Paris in the morning。〃
She looked disappointed but seemed to know it was the right thing to do。 Neither of them spoke for a long time。 Finally Sophie reached over and； taking his hand； led him out of the chapel。 They walked to a small rise on the bluff。 From here； the Scottish countryside spread out before them； suffused in a pale moonlight that sifted through the departing clouds。 They stood in silence； holding hands； both of them fighting the descending shroud of exhaustion。
The stars were just now appearing； but to the east； a single point of light glowed brighter than any other。 Langdon smiled when he saw it。 It was Venus。 The ancient Goddess shining down with her steady and patient light。
The night was growing cooler； a crisp breeze rolling up from the lowlands。 After a while； Langdon looked over at Sophie。 Her eyes were closed； her lips relaxed in a contented smile。 Langdon could feel his own eyes growing heavy。 Reluctantly； he squeezed her hand。 〃Sophie？〃
Slowly； she opened her eyes and turned to him。 Her face was beautiful in the moonlight。 She gave him a sleepy smile。 〃Hi。〃
Langdon felt an unexpected sadness to realize he would be returning to Paris without her。 〃I may be gone before you wake up。〃 He paused； a knot growing in his throat。 〃I'm sorry； I'm not very good at—〃
Sophie reached out and placed her soft hand on the side of his face。 Then； leaning forward； she kissed him tenderly on the cheek。 〃When can I see you again？〃
Langdon reeled momentarily； lost in her eyes。 〃When？〃 He paused； curious if she had any idea how much he had been wondering the same thing。 〃Well； actually； next month I'm lecturing at a conference in Florence。 I'll be there a week without much to do。〃
〃Is that an invitation？〃
〃We'd be living in luxury。 They're giving me a room at the Brunelleschi。〃
Sophie smiled playfully。 〃You presume a lot； Mr。 Langdon。〃
He cringed at how it had sounded。 〃What I meant—〃
〃I would love nothing more than to meet you in Florence； Robert。 But on one condition。〃 Her tone turned serious。 〃No museums； no churches； no tombs； no art； no relics。〃
〃In Florence？ For a week？ There's nothing else to do。〃
Sophie leaned forward and kissed him again； now on the lips。 Their bodies came together； softly at first； and then pletely。 When she pulled away； her eyes were full of promise。
〃Right；〃 Langdon managed。 〃It's a date。〃
Epilogue
Robert Langdon awoke with a start。 He had been dreaming。 The bathrobe beside his bed bore the monogram HOTEL RITZ PARIS。 He saw a dim light filtering through the blinds。 Is it dusk or dawn？ he wondered。
Langdon's body felt warm and deeply contented。 He had slept the better part of the last two days。 Sitting up slowly in bed； he now realized what had awoken him。。。 the strangest thought。 For days he had been trying to sort through a barrage of information； but now Langdon found himself fixed on something he'd not considered before。
Could it be？
He remained motionless a long moment。
Getting out of bed； he walked to the marble shower。 Stepping inside； he let the powerful jets message his shoulders。 Still； the thought enthralled him。
Impossible。
Twenty minutes later； Langdon stepped out of the Hotel Ritz into Place Vend？me。 Night was falling。 The days of sleep had left him disoriented。。。 and yet his mind felt oddly lucid。 He had promised himself he would stop in the hotel lobby for a cafe au lait to clear his thoughts； but instead his legs carried him directly out the front door into the gathering Paris night。
Walking east on Rue des Petits Champs； Langdon felt a growing excitement。 He turned south onto Rue Richelieu； where the air grew sweet with the scent of blossoming jasmine from the stately gardens of the Palais Royal。
He continued south until he saw what he was looking for—the famous royal arcade—a glistening expanse of polished black marble。 Moving onto it； Langdon scanned the surface beneath his feet。 Within seconds； he found what he knew was there—several bronze medallions embedded in the ground in a perfectly straight line。 Each disk was five inches in diameter and embossed with the letters N and S。
Nord。 Sud。
He turned due south； letting his eye trace the extended line formed by the medallions。 He began moving again； following the trail； watching the pavement as he walked。 As he cut across the corner of the édie…Fran？aise； another bronze medallion passed beneath his feet。 Yes！
The streets of Paris； Langdon had learned years ago； were adorned with 135 of these bronze markers； embedded in sidewalks； courtyards； and streets； on a north…south axis across the city。 He had once followed the line from Sacré…Coeur； north across the Seine； and finally to the ancient Paris Observatory。 There he discovered the significance of the sacred path it traced。
The earth's original prime meridian。
The first zero longitude of the world。
Paris's ancient Rose Line。
Now； as Langdon hurried across Rue de Rivoli； he could feel his destination withi