[For once his expression doesn’t soften at all for John, looking much closer to the Soldier now than he has since he arrived here. Nevertheless, he does as he’s told and dumps both Mycroft and the bird down.]

He came to my house and asked me to teach him how to sever a Heart. When I told him what it entailed he said it was a disappointment; he spoke like them, like being a machine over man is preferable.

[His expression darkens.]

He came because he heard I was John Watson’s patient and his brother said I’d know how it was done.