That strikes him very well, he thinks. Quite different circumstances from the first story, or he would venture to suppose, which is good because Holmes isn't sure he would be able to approve on another romance like that that was all build-up and missed signals and no reward. The close quarters of a ship lend themselves well to tension and budding romance, but he is intrigued by the close quarters as well; what will the other sailors have to say?

"I can approve of that," he says with a satisfied sniff, as if it were his story and not Watson's (and no matter Holmes's suggestions, it is ultimately Watson's story). "And yes, I would like to hear it as you go along. That way I'm not tempted to skip to the end to see if I approve." He gives Watson a playful smile.