Life is more than food and drink
Holmes wasn't in the mood to eat. I could see it, but our client, the hon. James Wildgoose, was completely unaware, though both of our plates were nearly empty. I think that a well placed vase of carnations obscured his view of Holmes' plate. Luckily age had mellowed Holmes a little and he realised that he was in a precariously indecorous position, though this recent understanding didn't by any means persuade him to change. It was as if eating would be one more task that could distract him from his purpose. The conversation was hard enough on him.
Whilst I spoke with the old soldier about his curious hobby of botany [of course he didn't garden practically, but he knew a lot about flowers], Holmes sighed and pushed his tiny portion of roast lamb [he had asked for the least he could get away with] about his plate, occasionally looking at me with an expression of pain.
After a while, however, our host got a telephone call and had to leave the room. Holmes looked at me entreatingly this time.
"If you would be so kind, Watson…"
"I've eaten nearly finished a full portion already!"
"Nobody will notice if you put on a little weight but I."
"And I suppose I'll lose it again through stress anyway."
"Now, look here, Watson, I never mean to worry you, and besides you are much less thin than I." I sighed and swapped plates with him.
"That is because I have had your supper more often than you-" Holmes had lifted his hand as a solicit of silence. The hon. James Wildgoose had come back with news from his telephone conversation.
I only worried that I had two sets of cutlery on my plate.