churki is of the opinion that-that it can not but convey our peaceful intentions , when they have seen us disembark- '' from his awkward looks , laurence doubted whether churki 's exact meaning had been translated , but temeraire was distracted at the moment by low argument with iskierka on the subject of the ornamentation of an immense temple visible a little to the southeast : `` laurence , '' he said , swinging his head around , `` do you think that can really be gold , there on the outside of that building ?