Holmes frowns a little, listening to this. Watson doesn't really want to keep his practice, does he? Does he really find it necessary to be coy about keeping it around for politeness's sake? Holmes couldn't care less about their income; money rarely worries him, and he's sure they'll resume earning enough from solving his cases again soon.

"Then why not sell your practice to your neighbor -- or anyone willing -- so that they might take your patients all of the time, and you and I can go back to living our lives as they ought to be?" It seems logical to him. And a far better idea than sharing his Watson with unworthy people.