1908

third week of November, year 1895, dense yellow fog settled down upon London Monday Thursday whether ever possible windows in Baker Street the loom opposite houses The first day Holmes had spent in cross-indexing his huge book of references The second and third patiently occupied upon subject which he had recently made his hobby- the music Middle Ages But when, fourth time, after pushing back our chairs from breakfast we saw the greasy, heavy brown swirl still drifting past us and condensing in oily drops window-panes, my comrade's impatient and active nature could endure this drab existence no longer He paced restlessly about our sitting-room in fever of suppressed energy, biting his nails, tapping the furniture, and chafing against inaction

"Nothing of interest paper, Watson ? "

aware that by anything of interest, Holmes meant anything of criminal interest the news of revolution, of possible war, and of an impending change of government; but these come horizon companion I nothing recorded shape of crime not commonplace and futile Holmes groaned and resumed his restless meanderings

"The London criminal is certainly dull fellow," said he querulous voice sportsman whose game has failed him "Look out window, Watson See how the figures loom up, are dimly seen, and then blend once more cloud-bank The thief or the murderer could roam London day tiger does the jungle, unseen until he pounces, and then evident only victim "

" ," said I, "been numerous petty thefts "

Holmes snorted his contempt

"This great and sombre stage is set for something more worthy than that," said he " fortunate community that not criminal "

" , indeed ! " said I heartily

"Suppose that I were Brooks or Woodhouse, or any fifty men good reason for taking my life, how long could I survive against my own pursuit ? summons, bogus appointment, and all over well they don't have days of fog Latin countries- the countries of assassination By Jove ! here comes something at last to break our dead monotony "

It maid with telegram Holmes tore it open and burst out laughing

"Well, well ! What next ? " said he "Brother Mycroft is coming round "

" ? " I asked

" ? as met tram-car coming down country lane Mycroft has his rails and he runs on them His Pall Mall lodgings, the Diogenes Club, Whitehall- his cycle Once, and only once, he here What upheaval can possibly have derailed him ? "

"Does he not explain ? "

Holmes handed me his brother's telegram

Must see you over Cadogan West Coming at once

MYCROFT

"Cadogan West ? heard the name "

"It recalls nothing to my mind But that Mycroft should break out erratic fashion ! planet might leave its orbit , what Mycroft is ? "

I had some vague recollection of an explanation Adventure Greek Interpreter

"You told me that he had some small office under the British government "

Holmes chuckled

" know you quite in those days One be discreet when one talks of high matters of state right in thinking that under the British government also be right in sense said that occasionally he British government "

"My dear Holmes ! "

" surprise you Mycroft draws four hundred and fifty pounds year, remains subordinate, has no ambitions of any kind, will receive neither honour nor title, but remains the most indispensable man country "

"But how ? "

"Well, his position is unique He it for himself There has never been anything like it before, nor again He tidiest and most orderly brain, greatest capacity for storing facts, of any man living The same great powers which turned detection of crime he has used particular business The conclusions of every department are passed to him, and he central exchange, the clearing-house, which makes out the balance All other men are specialists, but his specialism is omniscience suppose that minister needs information point which involves the Navy, India, Canada bimetallic question; get his separate advices from various departments upon each, but only Mycroft can focus them all, and say offhand how each factor would affect the other They began by using him as short-cut, convenience; now he himself an essential great brain everything is pigeon-holed and handed out in an instant Again and again his word has decided the national policy He lives He thinks of nothing else save when, as an intellectual exercise, he unbends if I call upon him and ask him to advise me on one little problems But Jupiter is descending to-day What on earth can it mean ? Cadogan West, and he to Mycroft ? "

" it," I cried, and plunged litter of papers sofa "Yes, yes, here , sure enough ! Cadogan West young man who was found dead Underground on Tuesday morning "

Holmes sat up at attention, his pipe halfway lips

"This serious, Watson death caused my brother to alter his habits no ordinary one What can he have with it ? The case was featureless as I remember it The young man had apparently fallen train and killed himself He robbed, and no particular reason to suspect violence not so ? "

" an inquest" said I, "and fresh facts have come out Looked at more closely, certainly say curious case "

"Judging by its effect upon my brother, think it most extraordinary one " He snuggled down armchair "Now, Watson, the facts "

"The man's name was Arthur Cadogan West twenty-seven , unmarried, and clerk at Woolwich Arsenal "

"Government employ Behold the link with Brother Mycroft ! "

"He left Woolwich suddenly on Monday night Was last seen by his fiancee, Miss Violet Westbury, whom he left abruptly fog about 7:30 that evening no quarrel and give no motive action The next thing heard of him was when his dead body was discovered by plate-layer named Mason, just outside Aldgate Station Underground system in London "

"When ? "

"The body was found at six Tuesday morning lying wide metals track as one goes eastward, at point close station, where the line emerges tunnel it runs The head was badly crushed- an injury which might well caused by fall train The body could only have come line way Had it been carried down from any neighbouring street, it passed the station barriers, where collector is always standing This point seems absolutely certain "

" The case is definite enough The man, dead or alive, either fell or was precipitated from train is clear Continue "

"The trains which traverse the lines of rail beside which the body was found are those which run from west to east, some being purely Metropolitan, and some from Willesden and outlying junctions It stated for certain young man, when he met his death, was travelling direction at some late hour night, but at what point he entered the train impossible to state "

"His ticket, , would show that "

" no ticket pockets "

"No ticket ! Dear me, Watson, really very singular According to my experience possible to reach the platform of Metropolitan train without exhibiting one's ticket Presumably, then, the young man had one taken to conceal the station ? possible Or did he drop it carriage ? That also is possible But the point is of curious interest I understand that no sign of robbery ? "

"Apparently not list here possessions His purse contained two pounds fifteen He had also check-book Woolwich branch Capital and Counties Bank his identity was established There were also two dress-circle tickets Woolwich Theatre, dated very evening Also small packet of technical papers "

Holmes gave an exclamation of satisfaction

"There it at last, Watson ! British government- Woolwich Arsenal- technical papers- Brother Mycroft, the chain is complete But here he comes, if not mistaken, for himself "