The conclusions of everydepartment are passed to him, and he is the central exchange, theclearinghouse, which makes out the balance. All other men arespecialists, but his specialism is omniscience.

I thought I might surprise you. Mycroft draws four hundred andfifty pounds a year, remains a subordinate, has no ambitions ofany kind, will receive neither honour nor title, but remains themost indispensable man in the country.

I did not know you quite so well in those days. One has to bediscreet when one talks of high matters of state. You are rightin thinking that he under the British government. You would alsobe right in a sense if you said that occasionally he IS theBritish government.

It recalls nothing to my mind. But that Mycroft should breakout in this erratic fashion! A planet might as well leave itsorbit. By the way, do you know what Mycroft is?