And Then the Town Took Off

Her father's apparent sincerity left Alis speechless. She looked from Bendy to Don, but they seemed to consider discretion and masklike faces the better part of candor."Well spoken, Sir Osbert," the king said. He clapped his hands and a servant jumped. "Dinner for these three. Find a table, my friends, and you will be served."Don firmly guided Alis away. She had seemed about to explode. They found an empty table out of earshot of the king, and three footmen looking like refugees from Alice in Wonderland immediately began to serve them.Bendy spread a napkin over his lap. "Let's curb our snickers and fill our stomachs," he said, "and later we can go out behind the barn and laugh our heads off. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open."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."