you prepared the remarks - `` the unlikelihood of this accusation striking him , perhaps , as soon as he had made it to lloyd 's gaping , uncomprehending face , he immediately amended , `` they were given you , by someone , and you fed them to him , to embarrass me - `` `` i never , sir , '' lloyd protested , to no avail , and it annoyed temeraire so much that he nearly indulged himself in a small , a very small roar ; but in the last moment he exercised great restraint , and only growled .