Watson wasn't sure exactly how to respond to this. He certainly wasn't sure how to interpret this. He looked down at his pyjamas, feeling oddly guilty. For the first time, he wondered how fair it might be to Mrs. Hudson to get up to illegal improprieties under her roof. He was still left to wonder if he was making a very stupid error by allowing her to have as much insight as she did.

"Well, I expect I shall manage somehow," he said, uncertainly. "If the sofa doesn't work, then I will manage to work out some alternative. Thank you, Mrs. Hudson. Truly."

He twisted his fingers into his pyjamas, not knowing what else to say.