When Holmes received the mysterious letter , written by a very well to do German on stiff, expensive paper, Watson's first reaction was to leave before the guest arrived. It sounded terribly important and the guest himself would not wish an audience. When he told Holmes so, Holmes replied that he must stay, for "I would be lost without my Boswell."
When he received the mysterious letter, Holmes deduced almost immediately who the guest would be. After showing the letter to Watson, Watson suggested that he leave because the guest would hardly want to have an audience. Holmes convinced him to stay, saying that he would be lost without his Boswell. Only a few years later, would Holmes understand how much he truly meant that.
