Read Online The Adventure of Bruce-Partington Plans by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Free Book Online

*
    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
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 Cadogen West. Coming at once.
    Mycroft.
    "Cadogen 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 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