Watson let himself be led away, though he glanced anxiously in the direction of Holmes's bedroom. He should have closed that door.

He sat down, looking up at Mrs. Hudson helplessly. It would, he realised dimly, be far too easy to betray something suspicious about their relationship, but it was hard to care overmuch for that at the moment. That was probably unwise.

"It came on him while I was out," he admitted. "He is... quite seriously ill."