Watson grimaced, although not very seriously. "Oh, must you toss my words back in my face? That was years ago. I know rather better now, and I didn't truly believe it then. If you were so cold, calculating, and inhuman as all that... well, you would have chosen a different career, or at the very least, have been far crueller to your clients and their distress."

He turned back to Holmes again, and extended an arm hopefully, not sure whether he was hoping for Holmes to take his hand or offer his entire self in an embrace. His temper was quick, and fierce at times, but it did generally tend to run itself out fairly quickly. That was a small blessing.

"You must be exaggerating," he said, with a small and self-deprecating smile. "Surely there must have been one person of your acquaintance who has looked at me tagging along after you like some poor spaniel, and remarked upon me unfavourably."