[Moltke]

While Holmes was certainly fond of the good Doctor (other than once chiding him for the indelicacy of getting married :) - I'd have to look up the exact story), Conan Doyle was not mincing words, in the same last book that you quote from, when he has Holmes, in only one of two first person narratives by Holmes himself, characterize Watson in that singularly detached and somewhat cynical manner of his in the following manner:

"Speaking of my old friend and biographer, I would take this opportunity to remark that if I burden myself with a companion in my various little inquiries it is not done out of sentiment or caprice, but it is that Watson has some remarkable characteristics of his own to which in his modesty he has given small attention amid his exaggerated estimates of my own performances. A confederate who foresees your conclusions and course of action is always dangerous, but one to whom each development comes as a perpetual surprise, and to whom the future is always a closed book, is indeed an ideal helpmate." - The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier

BOOM! That introductory part of the story (the introductions are always the best parts, IMO) will never cease to make me laugh out loud. Holmes in a nutshell.

[mairdie]

I just plain love them both. What glorious characters. I went to a Baker Street group meeting once in White Plains where they had a canon quiz. The members were AMAZING at being able to quote chapter and verse. LOVED IT! And such exceptionally NICE people!