"Holmes maintained his brother was smarter than him, actually. As astonishing a thing that is to believe."

Watson took a long sip of brandy, trying to center himself, trying to straighten his thoughts out into something coherent. "Did you realise Holmes's parents were at the service? I never spoke to them, not properly. I gather they and Holmes did not part on good terms, and Mycroft never let them near me for any length of time. I suspect I should be thankful for that."

It was almost a relief to speak of this aloud, to his surprise. Watson was glad of it.