by Arthur Conan Doyle

During my long and intimate acquaintance with Mr Sherlock Holmes I had never heard him refer relations, and hardly ever own early life This reticence upon his part had increased the somewhat inhuman effect which he produced upon me, until sometimes myself regarding him as an isolated phenomenon, brain without heart, as deficient in human sympathy as pre-eminent in intelligence His aversion to women disinclination new friendships were both typical unemotional character, but not more so than his complete suppression of every reference own people I had come that an orphan with no relatives living, but one day, to my very great surprise, he began about his brother

after tea on summer evening, conversation, which had roamed in desultory, spasmodic fashion from golf clubs causes change obliquity ecliptic, came round at last question of atavism and hereditary aptitudes The point under discussion was, how far any singular gift in an individual was due ancestry and how far own early training

"In your own case," said I, "from all that told me, it seems obvious that your faculty of observation and your peculiar facility for deduction are due to your own systematic training "

"To some extent," he answered, thoughtfully "My ancestors were country squires, who appear led much the same life as is natural class But, none the less, my turn that way is in my veins, and come with my grandmother, who sister of Vernet, the French artist Art blood is liable to strangest forms "

"But how hereditary ? "

"Because my brother Mycroft possesses it in larger degree than "

news indeed If there were another man singular powers in England, how that neither police nor public had heard of him ? I put the question, with hint my companion's modesty which made him acknowledge his brother as his superior Holmes laughed at my suggestion

"My dear Watson," said he, " agree with those who rank modesty virtues logician all things seen exactly , and to underestimate one's self is departure from truth exaggerate one's own powers When , therefore, that Mycroft has better powers of observation than I, take it that speaking the exact and literal truth "

"Is he your junior ? "

"Seven years my senior "

"How comes it that unknown ? "

"Oh, known own circle "

"Where, then ? "

"Well, Diogenes Club, for example "

I had never heard institution, and my face proclaimed , for Sherlock Holmes pulled out his watch

"The Diogenes Club queerest club in London, and Mycroft queerest men He's always there from quarter to five to twenty to eight It's six now, so care for stroll this beautiful evening very happy to introduce you to two curiosities "

"Five minutes later we were street, walking towards Regent's Circus

"You wonder," said my companion, "why it Mycroft use his powers for detective work incapable of it "

"But you said--"

" that my superior in observation and deduction art detective began and ended in reasoning from an arm-chair, my brother the greatest criminal agent that ever lived But he has no ambition and no energy even go out way his own solution, and would rather be considered wrong than trouble himself right Again and again taken problem to him, received an explanation afterwards proved the correct one And yet absolutely incapable of working out the practical points be gone into before case laid before judge or jury "

" his profession, then ? "

"By no means means of livelihood is to him the merest hobby of dilettante He has an extraordinary faculty for figures, and audits the books in government departments Mycroft lodges in Pall Mall, and he walks round the corner into Whitehall every morning and back every evening From year's end to year's end he takes no other exercise, seen nowhere else, except only Diogenes Club, just opposite his rooms "

" recall the name "

"Very likely not many men in London, , who, some from shyness, some from misanthropy, have no wish company fellows Yet averse to comfortable chairs latest periodicals convenience Diogenes Club was started, and it now contains the most unsociable and unclubable men in town No member is permitted to least notice of one Save Stranger's Room, no talking is, under any circumstances, allowed, and three offences, if brought notice committee, render the talker liable to expulsion My brother was founders, and myself found it very soothing atmosphere "

We had reached Pall Mall talked, and were walking down it St James's end Sherlock Holmes stopped at door some little distance Carlton, and, cautioning me not , he led the way hall glass panelling I caught glimpse of large and luxurious room, considerable number of men were sitting about and reading papers, each own little nook Holmes showed me into small chamber which looked out into Pall Mall, and then, leaving me for minute, back with companion whom could only be his brother

Mycroft Holmes was much larger and stouter man than Sherlock His body was absolutely corpulent, but is face, though massive, had preserved something sharpness of expression so remarkable brother His eyes, which were of peculiarly light, watery grey, seemed to always retain that far-away, introspective look which I had only observed in Sherlock's when exerting his full powers

" to meet you, sir," said he, putting out broad, fat hand like the flipper of seal "I hear of Sherlock everywhere since you became his chronicler , Sherlock, I expected you round last week, to consult me over that Manor House case little out of your depth "

"No, I solved it," said my friend, smiling

" Adams, "

"Yes, Adams "

" sure of it first " The two sat down together bow-window club "To who wishes to study mankind spot," said Mycroft "Look magnificent types ! Look two men coming towards us, for example "

"The billiard-marker other ? "

"Precisely What make other ? "

The two men had stopped opposite the window Some chalk marks over the waistcoat pocket were the only signs of billiards which I in The other was , dark fellow, hat pushed back and several packages under his arm

"An old soldier, I perceive," said Sherlock

"And very recently discharged," remarked the brother

"Served in India, "

"And non-commissioned officer "

"Royal Artillery, I fancy," said Sherlock

"And widower "

"But with child "

"Children, my dear boy, children "

"Come," said I, laughing, " little "

"Surely," answered Holmes, " hard that man bearing, expression of authority, and sunbaked skin, is soldier, is more than private, and long from India "

"That he left the service long is shown by his still wearing is ammunition boots, called," observed Mycroft

"He the cavalry stride, yet he wore his hat on one side, as is shown lighter skin side brow His weight is against his being sapper artillery "

"Then, , his complete mourning shows that he has lost some one very dear The fact that doing his own shopping looks it were his wife He buying things for children, you perceive rattle, which shows that is very young The wife probably died in childbed The fact that he has picture-book under his arm shows another child thought of "