Here he was, at Barlow's mercy at last. He willed his face to remain impassive though his hands were slick with sweat as they gripped the armrests of the chair. It had been a long time in coming, Holmes reflected, and he had put up a good fight but it was time to face his nemesis. What would Watson say if he heard Holmes had dashed out of the room?
If only the fiend were not so blasted chipper about it!
"Ready, Mr. Holmes?" smiled Dr. Barlow, holding up the dental drill.
Plot bunny spawned by reading Sir ACD's "How Watson Learned the Trick", available at sherlockian(dot)net