the feast , held in the ancient guildhall , was exactly as grey had predicted : long , eye-glazingly boring , and featuring course after course of roast pork , boiled beef , gravied mutton , roasted pheasants , sliced ham , braised quail , grilled fish , eggs in aspic and in pies , shellfish in soup , in pastry , and on the half shell , plus sundry savories , syllabubs , and sweets , all served on a weight of silver plate sufficient to purchase a small country and washed down with gallons of wine , drunk in a succession of endless toasts in honor of everyone from frederick , king of prussia , king george of england , and duke ferdinand down to-grey was sure-the kitchen cat , though by the time this point in the proceedings was reached , no one was paying sufficient attention as to be sure .