but then laurence came back and said , very gently , `` my dear , i must ask you to exert the greatest restraint , and to persuade iskierka to do the same , before i should - `` and temeraire stricken said , `` oh - oh , he has found - a bit of the egg - `` `` no , '' laurence said , `` no , my dear ; quite the contrary , but you must not disturb the trail , nor lose it .