`` mr. hammond , '' temeraire had said , at that point , having handed over the assassin to mianning 's guards with what he considered was extraordinary restraint ; he had not killed him straightaway , `` i perfectly understand those fellows did not mean anything terrible by carrying laurence away , and i will try not to be very short with them , but they certainly ought to have consulted my opinion on the subject of his protection , and you may be sure i will make that quite plain to them : i do not mean to have any repetition of such a misunderstanding .