A　pla　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　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

clearinghouse；　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　focu