`` general , if you will forgive me - the ministry feels there is some danger of a precedent - if i might have a word - `` he had not properly , fully , noticed temeraire yet : while he talked his eyes flicked a few times to the side and up , caught glimpses of black scales , the smooth horn of the talons , impressions which over the course of his sentence accumulated until at last he raised his head to look properly , and fell silent .