They were eating meat loaf and potatoes. The meat loaf was so highly spiced that it could have been almost anything.
"I wonder where His Worship got all the grub," Alis said.
"I don't know," Don said, "but it certainly doesn't look as if he needs any foreign aid."
Alis put down her fork suddenly and her eyes got big. She said, "You don't suppose—"
"Suppose what?" Bendy said, spearing a small potato.
"I just had a horrible thought." She laughed feebly. "It's ridiculous, of course, but I wondered if by any chance we were eating Joe Negus."
"Don't be silly," Don said, but he put down his fork too.
"Of course it's ridiculous," Bendy said. "Hector only put Negus to sleep. He didn't kill him. Besides, Joe Negus wouldn't stretch far enough to feed this crowd."
"Is that why you're not eating any more?" Alis asked him.
"Why, no," Bendy said. "It's merely that I've had enough. It's true that Hector could have used his scepter on other transgressors, but—no, I refuse to admit that he's turned cannibal."