The Da Vinci Code

"Mr. Vernet, my men have done some checking into your background and your interests. You are

obviously a man of great culture and refinement. I would imagine you are a man of honor, as well.

As am I. That said, I give you my word as commanding officer of the Police Judiciaire that your box, along with your bank's reputation, are in the safest of hands."

CHAPTER 90

High in the hayloft at Château Villette, Collet stared at the computer monitor in amazement. "This system is eavesdropping on all these locations." "Yes," the agent said. "It looks like data has been collected for over a year now." Collet read the list again, speechless. COLBERT SOSTAQUE—Chairman of the Conseil Constitutionnel JEAN CHAFFÉE—Curator, Musée du Jeu de Paume EDOUARD DESROCHERS—Senior Archivist, Mitterrand Library JACQUES SAUNIÈRE—Curator, Musée du Louvre MICHEL BRETON—Head of DAS (French Intelligence) The agent pointed to the screen. "Number four is of obvious concern." Collet nodded blankly. He had noticed it immediately. Jacques Saunière was being bugged. He looked at the rest of the list again. How could anyone possibly manage to bug these prominent

people. "Have you heard any of the audio files."

"A few. Here's one of the most recent." The agent clicked a few computer keys. The speakers crackled to life. "Capitaine, un agent du Département de Cryptographie est arrivé." Collet could not believe his ears. "That's me! That's my voice!" He recalled sitting at Saunière's desk and radioing Fache in the Grand Gallery to alert him of Sophie Neveu's arrival. The agent nodded. "A lot of our Louvre investigation tonight would have been audible if someone had been interested." "Have you sent anyone in to sweep for the bug."