of course it was not really suitable , to gong su 's proper rank , to ask him to cook anymore ; but it was a sad fact that none of the british cooks seemed at all able to make a respectable meal for a dragon other than the plainest roasted meat , and gong su had hinted to temeraire that so long as he should put the matter on the footing of a personal favor , no shame could attach to the act on his own side .