Watson scowled. "I can't," he insisted through gritted teeth, "Without the checkbook."

He was losing this argument and fast. There was but little ammunition left for him to use against Holmes and whatever remained was reaching, but he was still determined to fight on.

"Most of what you do is disagreeable. You're a terrible tenant and flatmate," he went on. "You... you shoot the walls, you never clean... But when, when have I ever confiscated anything of yours?"