It's difficult to tell but he may be succeeding so far. He stands and leans against his desk, resting his hands against the wood, so that he may look at Watson.

"I considered it, but it seemed unnecessary. You never stopped to ask where your interested buyer came from, and no doubt you were happy to receive the sum you set." That isn't true. He knew he was being underhanded, but he merely wanted Watson to move into Baker street without fear as quickly as possible, and he knew that Watson would have said no to Holmes helping in the way that he did. Perhaps he should have mentioned his cousin to Watson, but it seems like things went much faster the way that he orchestrated them.

"Now you are free to live with me without suspicion, and you did not have to wait a long period of time before someone surfaced to buy your practice."