"His name is William Laurence, and he is the finest captain you could ever see. I have known him since I hatched. He is honorable, and intelligent, and kind -- and an abolitionist, and he has very strong morals...and he is not here, and I miss him very much, but he will turn up sooner or later. He always does." He sounds -- a little disconsolate, but certainly stubborn in his belief that Laurence will show up here. Temeraire can be very stubborn when he wishes to be.