`` at least , '' he said , `` at least , you are still my captain ; and after all , while there are many captains who have some sort of dragon , i am the only dragon who is a commodore - `` but when he had tried this argument out privately to himself , it did not sound really consoling after all : puffing himself off , as though laurence ought to be satisfied with temeraire 's consequence and none of his own - insult to injury , and laurence had lost his gold bars , too .