If you sign it the whole matter will be settled."
The seaman lurched across the room and took up the pen.
"Shall I sign here?" he asked, stooping over the table.
Holmes leaned over his shoulder and passed both hands over his neck.
"This will do," said he.
I heard a click of steel and a bellow like an enraged bull.
The next instant Holmes and the seaman were rolling on the
ground together. He was a man of such gigantic strength that,
even with the handcuffs which Holmes had so deftly fastened upon
his wrists, he would have very quickly overpowered my friend had
Hopkins and I not rushed to his rescue. Only when I pressed the
cold muzzle of the revolver to his temple did he at last
understand that resistance was vain. We lashed his ankles with
cord and rose breathless from the struggle.
"I must really apologize, Hopkins," said Sherlock Holmes;
"I fear that the scrambled eggs are cold. However, you will
enjoy the rest of your breakfast all the better, will you not,
for the thought that you have brought your case to a triumphant
conclusion."
Stanley Hopkins was speechless with amazement.
"I don't know what to say, Mr.
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