Why on earth would people waste their time reading about things that never happened? Oh well...
“We’re sorry to barge in on you so late at night, Professor, but we badly need your help,” Langdon repeated.
The old man made no reply but continued to hold the square piece of paper in front of him, eyes twitching.
“We think it must be some sort of sequence,” Sophie added. “Two sets of six numbers, one on top of the other. But I can’t get it.”
“The Stracciatella sequence?” breathed the Professor, sotto voce. “But that hasn’t been used since 1413! Giovanni Stracciatella was an ice-cream vendor in Naples but made a few lira on the side devising arithmetical sequences. But where on earth did you find this.”
But as the annoying music heralding the National Lottery results came on the old television set in the corner, there came the tinkling sound of glass shattering and the Professor fell back, a large crossbow bolt protruding from his forehead.
(Dan Brown)
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