I settled back comfortably in the seat as we rattled along back to London. As I lit my pipe and met Watson's tired gaze across the compartment, I was very glad indeed that this sordid affair was over with – it had been far too indicative of how low humanity can possibly sink in this life.
"Holmes, something bothering you?"
"Mmh?"
I was startled out of my thoughts. "No, I was just thinking."
Watson chuckled.
"When are you not?"
I grinned at him, but then my face sobered once more in contemplation.
"Case bothering you?"
"Not necessarily the case, Watson, just…"
He nodded understandingly.
"Just you wonder what drives a man to such extremities, and how far our society is responsible for it," he said quietly.
Again, the man could read me like a book – I was not the only observer in this partnership.
"Sometimes – sometimes, Watson," I sighed thoughtfully, puffing on my pipe, "I wish I had not taken up this mantle of combating evil."
"I know. But none could do it better."
I glanced up at his serious face and felt my face crease in a smile.
"Thank you, Watson."
He echoed my sigh, glancing thoughtfully out the window.
"What do suppose my life would have been like, if I hadn't met you, Holmes?"
"Well for one thing, deucedly boring."