Chapter 52

           TheSprawling185-acreestateofChâteauVillettewaslocatedtwenty-fiveminutesnorthwestofParisintheenvironsofVersailles.DesignedbyFrançoisMansartin1668fortheCountofAufflay,itwasoneofParis’smostsignificanthistoricalchâteaux.CompletewithtworectangularlakesandgardensdesignedbyLeNôtre,ChâteauVillettewasmoreofamodestcastlethanamansion.TheestatefondlyhadbecomeknownaslaPetiteVersailles.

           Langdonbroughtthearmoredtrucktoashudderingstopatthefootofthemile-longdriveway.Beyondtheimposingsecuritygate,SirLeighTeabing’sresidenceroseonameadowinthedistance.

           ThesignonthegatewasinEnglish:

           PRIVATEPROPERTY.

           NOTRESPASSING.

           AsiftoproclaimhishomeaBritishIsleuntoitself,TeabinghadnotonlypostedhissignsinEnglish,buthehadinstalledhisgate’sintercomentrysystemontheright-handsideofthetruck–thepassenger’ssideeverywhereinEuropeexceptEngland.Sophiegavethemisplacedintercomanoddlook.«Andifsomeonearriveswithoutapassenger?»«Don’task.»LangdonhadalreadybeenthroughthatwithTeabing.«Heprefersthingsthewaytheyareathome.»

           Sophierolleddownherwindow.«Robert,you’dbetterdothetalking.»

           Langdonshiftedhisposition,leaningoutacrossSophietopresstheintercombutton.Ashedid,analluringwhiffofSophie’sperfumefilledhisnostrils,andherealizedhowclosetheywere.Hewaitedthere,awkwardlyprone,whileatelephonebeganringingoverthesmallspeaker.

           Finally,theintercomcrackledandanirritatedFrenchaccentspoke.«ChâteauVillette.