“What you smell,” said his wife, “must be the calf which I have just killed and dressed.”
“I smell fresh meat, I tell you once more,” said the ogre, looking crossly at his wife, “and there is something here which I do not understand.”
As he spoke these words, he got up from the table, and went straight to the bed.
“Ah,” said he, “that is how you thought to cheat me! Wretch! I do not know why I do not eat you up too; it is well for you that you are old and tough. Here is game which comes just in season to entertain three ogres, friends of mine, who are to pay me a visit in a day or two.”
With that he dragged them out from under the bed one by one. The poor children fell upon their knees and begged for pardon; but they had to deal with the most cruel of ogres, who, far from having any pity for them, had already devoured them with his eyes, and now told his wife they would be dainty morsels when she served them up with a good sauce. [[129]]
He then fetched a great knife and began to sharpen it on a great whetstone which he held in his left hand; and all the while he came nearer and nearer to the poor children. He had already taken hold of one of them when his wife said to him: “Why do you need to do it at this time of night? Is not to-morrow time enough?”
“Hold your prating!” said the ogre; “they will grow more tender if they are kept a little while after they are killed.” [[130]]
“But you have so much meat already,” replied his wife; “here are a calf, two sheep, and half a pig.”
“You are right,” said the ogre. “Give them all a good supper, that they may not get thin, and put them to bed.”