s　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！ Cadogen　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　e　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…se