SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE ADVENTURE OF THE BRUCE…PARTINGTON PLAN
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
In the third week of November； in the year 1895； a dense yellow fog
settled down upon London。 From the Monday to the Thursday I doubt
whether it was ever possible from our windows in Baker Street to see
the loom of the opposite houses。 The first day Holmes had spent in
cross…indexing his huge book of references。 The second and third had
been patiently occupied upon a subject which he had recently made
his hobby… the music of the Middle Ages。 But when； for the 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 upon the window…panes； my comrade's impatient and active
nature could endure this drab existence no longer。 He paced restlessly
about our sitting…room in a fever of suppressed energy； biting his
nails； tapping the furniture； and chafing against inaction。
〃Nothing of interest in the paper； Watson？〃 he said。
I was aware that by anything of interest； Holmes meant anything of
criminal interest。 There was the news of a revolution； of a possible
war； and of an impending change of government； but these did not
come within the horizon of my companion。 I could see nothing
recorded in the shape of crime which was not commonplace and futile。
Holmes groaned and resumed his restless meanderings。
〃The London criminal is certainly a dull fellow；〃 said he in the
querulous voice of the sportsman whose game has failed him。 〃Look
out of this window； Watson。 See how the figures loom up； are dimly
seen； and then blend once more into the cloud…bank。 The thief or the
murderer could roam London on such a day as the tiger does the jungle；
unseen until he pounces； and then evident only to his victim。〃
〃There have；〃 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。 〃It is fortunate for this community that I am not a
criminal。〃
〃It is； indeed！〃 said I heartily。
〃Suppose that I were Brooks or Woodhouse； or any of the fifty men
who have good reason for taking my life； how long could I survive
against my own pursuit？ A summons； a bogus appointment； and all
would be over。 It is well they don't have days of fog in the Latin
countries… the countries of assassination。 By Jove！ here comes
something at last to break our dead monotony。〃
It was the maid with a telegram。 Holmes tore it open and burst out
laughing。
〃Well； well！ What next？〃 said he。 〃Brother Mycroft is coming round。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked。
〃Why not？ It is as if you met a tram…car coming down a country lane。
Mycroft has his rails and he runs on them。 His Pall Mall lodgings； the
Diogenes Club； Whitehall… that is his cycle。 Once； and only once； he
has been 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？ I have heard the name。〃
〃It recalls nothing to my mind。 But that Mycroft should break out in
this erratic fashion！ A planet might as well leave its orbit。 By the
way； do you know what Mycroft is？〃
I had some vague recollection of an explanation at the time of the
Adventure of the Greek Interpreter。
〃You told me that he had some small office under the British
government。〃
Holmes chuckled。
〃I did not know you quite so well in those days。 One has to be
discreet when one talks of high matters of state。 You are right in
thinking that he is under the British government。 You would also be
right in a sense if you said that occasionally he is the British
government。〃
〃My dear Holmes！〃
〃I thought I might surprise you。 Mycroft draws four hundred and
fifty pounds a year； remains a subordinate； has no ambitions of any
kind； will receive neither honour nor title； but remains the most
indispensable man in the country。〃
〃But how？〃
〃Well； his position is unique。 He has made it for himself。 There has
never been anything like it before； nor will be again。 He has the
tidiest and most orderly brain； with the greatest capacity for storing
facts； of any man living。 The same great powers which I have turned to
the detection of crime he has used for this particular business。 The
conclusions of every department are passed to him； and he is the
central exchange； the clearing…house； which makes out the balance。 All
other men are specialists； but his specialism is omniscience。 We
will suppose that a minister needs information as to a point which
involves the Navy； India； Canada and the bimetallic question； he could
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 a short…cut； a
convenience； now he has made himself an essential。 In that great brain
of his everything is pigeon…holed and can be handed out in an instant。
Again and again his word has decided the national policy。 He lives
in it。 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 of my little problems。 But Jupiter is descending to…day。 What on
earth can it mean？ Who is Cadogan West； and what is he to Mycroft？〃
〃I have it；〃 I cried； and plunged among the litter of papers upon
the sofa。 〃Yes； yes； here he is； sure enough！ Cadogan West was the
young man who was found dead on the Underground on Tuesday morning。〃
Holmes sat up at attention； his pipe halfway to his lips。
〃This must be serious； Watson。 A death which has caused my brother
to alter his habits can be no ordinary one。 What in the world can he
have to do with it？ The case was featureless as I remember it。 The
young man had apparently fallen out of the train and killed himself。
He had not been robbed； and there was no particular reason to
suspect violence。 Is that not so？〃
〃There has been an inquest〃 said I； 〃and a good many fresh facts
have come out。 Looked at more closely； I should certainly say that
it was a curious case。〃
〃Judging by its effect upon my brother； I should think it must be
a most extraordinary one。〃 He snuggled down in his armchair。 〃Now；
Watson； let us have the facts。〃
〃The man's name was Arthur Cadogan West。 He was twenty…seven years
of age； unmarried； and a 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 in the fog
about 7：30 that evening。 There was no quarrel between them and she can
give no motive for his action。 The next thing heard of him was when
his dead body was discovered by a plate…layer named Mason； just
outside Aldgate Station on the Underground system in London。〃
〃When？〃
〃The body was found at six on the Tuesday morning。 It was lying wide
of the metals upon the left hand of the track as one goes eastward； at
a point close to the station； where the line emerges from the tunnel
in which it runs。 The head was badly crushed… an injury which might
well have been caused by a fall from the train。 The body could only
have come on the line in that way。 Had it been carried down from any
neighbouring street； it must have passed the station barriers； where a
collector is always standing。 This point seems absolutely certain。〃
〃Very good。 The case is definite enough。 The man； dead or alive；
either fell or was precipitated from a train。 So much is clear to
me。 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 can
be stated for certain that this young man； when he met his death；
was travelling in this direction at some late hour of the night； but
at what point he entered the train it is impossible to state。〃
〃His ticket； of course； would show that。〃
〃There was no ticket in his pockets。〃
〃No ticket！ Dear me； Watson； this is really very singular。 According
to my experience it is not possible to reach the platform of a
Metropolitan train without exhibiting one's ticket。 Presumably；
then； the young man had one。 Was it taken from him in order to conceal
the station from which he came？ It is possible。 Or did he drop it in
the carriage？ That also is possible。 But the point is of curious
interest。 I understand that there was no sign of robbery？〃
〃Apparently not。 There is a list here of his possessions。 His
purse contained two pounds fifteen。 He had also a check…book on the
Woolwich branch of the Capital and Counties Bank。 Through this his
identity was established。 There were also two dress…circle tickets for
the Woolwich Theatre； dated for that very evening。 Also a small packet
of technical papers。〃
Holmes gave an exclamation of satisfaction。
〃There we have it at last； Watson！ British government… Woolwich。
Arsenal… technical papers… Brother Mycroft； the chain is complete。 But
here he comes； if I am not mistaken； to speak for himself。〃
A moment later the tall and portly form of Mycroft Holmes was
ushered into the room。 Heavily built and massive； there was a
suggestion of uncouth physical inertia in the figure； but above this
unwieldy frame there was perched a head so masterful in its brow； so
alert in its steel…gray； deep…set eyes； so firm in its lips； and so
subtle in its play of expression； that after the first glance one
forgot the gross body and remembered only the dominant mind。
At his heels came our old friend Lestrade； of Scotland Yard… thin
and austere。 The gravity of both their faces foretold some weighty
quest。 The detective shook hands without a word。 Mycroft Holmes
struggled out of his overcoat and subsided into an armchair。
〃A most a