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Langdon's eyes widened further。
Sophie explained that creating models of Da Vinci's inventions was one of her grandfather's best…loved hobbies。 A talented craftsman who spent hours in his wood and metal shop； Jacques Saunière enjoyed imitating master craftsmen—Fabergé； assorted cloisonne artisans； and the less artistic； but far more practical； Leonardo da Vinci。
Even a cursory glance through Da Vinci's journals revealed why the luminary was as notorious for his lack of follow…through as he was famous for his brilliance。 Da Vinci had drawn up blueprints for hundreds of inventions he had never built。 One of Jacques Saunière's favorite pastimes was bringing Da Vinci's more obscure brainstorms to life—timepieces； water pumps； cryptexes； and even a fully articulated model of a medieval French knight； which now stood proudly on the desk in his office。 Designed by Da Vinci in 1495 as an outgrowth of his earliest anatomy and kinesiology studies； the internal mechanism of the robot knight possessed accurate joints and tendons； and was designed to sit up； wave its arms； and move its head via a flexible neck while opening and closing an anatomically correct jaw。 This armor…clad knight； Sophie had always believed； was the most beautiful object her grandfather had ever built。。。 that was； until she had seen the cryptex in this rosewood box。
〃He made me one of these when I was little；〃 Sophie said。 〃But I've never seen one so ornate and large。〃
Langdon's eyes had never left the box。 〃I've never heard of a cryptex。〃
Sophie was not surprised。 Most of Leonardo's unbuilt inventions had never been studied or even named。 The term cryptex possibly had been her grandfather's creation； an apt title for this device that used the science of cryptology to protect information written on the contained scroll or codex。
Da Vinci had been a cryptology pioneer； Sophie knew； although he was seldom given credit。 Sophie's university instructors； while presenting puter encryption methods for securing data； praised modern cryptologists like Zimmerman and Schneier but failed to mention that it was Leonardo who had invented one of the first rudimentary forms of public key encryption centuries ago。 Sophie's grandfather； of course； had been the one to tell her all about that。
As their armored truck roared down the highway； Sophie explained to Langdon that the cryptex had been Da Vinci's solution to the dilemma of sending secure messages over long distances。 In an era without telephones or e…mail； anyone wanting to convey private information to someone far away had no option but to write it down and then trust a messenger to carry the letter。 Unfortunately； if a messenger suspected the letter might contain valuable information； he could make far more money selling the information to adversaries than he could delivering the letter properly。
Many great minds in history had invented cryptologic solutions to the challenge of data protection： Julius Caesar devised a code…writing scheme called the Caesar Box； Mary； Queen of Scots created a transposition cipher and sent secret muniqués from prison； and the brilliant Arab scientist Abu Yusuf Ismail al…Kindi protected his secrets with an ingeniously conceived polyalphabetic substitution cipher。
Da Vinci； however； eschewed mathematics and cryptology for a mechanical solution。 The cryptex。 A portable container that could safeguard letters； maps； diagrams； anything at all。 Once information was sealed inside the cryptex； only the individual with the proper password could access it。
〃We require a password；〃 Sophie said； pointing out the lettered dials。 〃A cryptex works much like a bicycle's bination lock。 If you align the dials in the proper position； the lock slides open。 This cryptex has five lettered dials。 When you rotate them to their proper sequence； the tumblers inside align； and the entire cylinder slides apart。〃
〃And inside？〃
〃Once the cylinder slides apart； you have access to a hollow central partment； which can hold a scroll of paper on which is the information you want to keep private。〃
Langdon looked incredulous。 〃And you say your grandfather built these for you when you were younger？〃
〃Some smaller ones； yes。 A couple times for my birthday； he gave me a cryptex and told me a riddle。 The answer to the riddle was the password to the cryptex； and once I figured it out； I could open it up and find my birthday card。〃
〃A lot of work for a card。〃
〃No； the cards always contained another riddle or clue。 My grandfather loved creating elaborate treasure hunts around our house； a string of clues that eventually led to my real gift。 Each treasure hunt was a test of character and merit； to ensure I earned my rewards。 And the tests were never simple。〃
Langdon eyed the device again； still looking skeptical。 〃But why not just pry it apart？ Or smash it？ The metal looks delicate； and marble is a soft rock。〃
Sophie smiled。 〃Because Da Vinci is too smart for that。 He designed the cryptex so that if you try to force it open in any way； the information self…destructs。 Watch。〃 Sophie reached into the box and carefully lifted out the cylinder。 〃Any information to be inserted is first written on a papyrus scroll。〃
〃Not vellum？〃
Sophie shook her head。 〃Papyrus。 I know sheep's vellum was more durable and more mon in those days； but it had to be papyrus。 The thinner the better。〃
〃Okay。〃
〃Before the papyrus was inserted into the cryptex's partment； it was rolled around a delicate glass vial。〃 She tipped the cryptex； and the liquid inside gurgled。 〃A vial of liquid。〃
〃Liquid what？〃
Sophie smiled。 〃Vinegar。〃
Langdon hesitated a moment and then began nodding。 〃Brilliant。〃
Vinegar and papyrus； Sophie thought。 If someone attempted to force open the cryptex； the glass vial would break； and the vinegar would quickly dissolve the papyrus。 By the time anyone extracted the secret message； it would be a glob of meaningless pulp。
〃As you can see；〃 Sophie told him； 〃the only way to access the information inside is to know the proper five…letter password。 And with five dials； each with twenty…six letters； that's twenty…six to the fifth power。〃 She quickly estimated the permutations。 〃Approximately twelve million possibilities。〃
〃If you say so；〃 Langdon said； looking like he had approximately twelve million questions running through his head。 〃What information do you think is inside？〃
〃Whatever it is； my grandfather obviously wanted very badly to keep it secret。〃 She paused； closing the box lid and eyeing the five…petal Rose inlaid on it。 Something was bothering her。 〃Did you say earlier that the Rose is a symbol for the Grail？〃
〃Exactly。 In Priory symbolism； the Rose and the Grail are synonymous。〃
Sophie furrowed her brow。 〃That's strange； because my grandfather always told me the Rose meant secrecy。 He used to hang a rose on his office door at home when he was having a confidential phone call and didn't want me to disturb him。 He encouraged me to do the same。〃 Sweetie； her grandfather said； rather than lock each other out； we can each hang a rose—la fleur des secrets—on our door when we need privacy。 This way we learn to respect and trust each other。 Hanging a rose is an ancient Roman custom。
〃Sub rosa；〃 Langdon said。 〃The Ro