This etext was transcribed by Les Bowler [Picture: Book cover] TABLE D’HÔTE * * * * * BY W. PETT RIDGE * * * * * HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO * * * * * _Printed in_ 1911 TABLE D’HÔTE PAGE HORS D’ŒUVRES The Target 17 Surroundings 65 The Usurper 95 The Leading Lady 121 Scotter’s Luck 149 Young Nuisances 193 JOINTS Change of Government 1 Moving Pictures 25 Country Confederates 49 Retiring Inspector 75 Time’s Methods 131 Means of Transport 159 My Brother Edward 203 Savoir Faire 223 SWEETS Jules Zwinger 105 Irene Mercer 179 SAVOURY Magnificent Remedies 241 CONTENTS PAGE I CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT 1 II THE TARGET 17 III MOVING PICTURES 25 IV COUNTRY CONFEDERATES 49 V SURROUNDINGS 65 VI RETIRING INSPECTOR 75 VII THE USURPER 95 VIII JULES ZWINGER 105 IX THE LEADING LADY 121 X TIME’S METHOD 131 XI SCOTTER’S LUCK 149 XII MEANS OF TRANSPORT 159 XIII IRENE MERCER 179 XIV YOUNG NUISANCES 193 XV MY BROTHER EDWARD 203 XVI SAVOIR FAIRE 223 XVII MAGNIFICENT REMEDIES 241 I—CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT “BOOTS!” he roared, for the second time. His wife, opening the kitchen door, looked in, and surveyed him. “If I have to order you,” said Mr. Baynes, speaking with great distinctness, “to come and take off my boots again, I shall dock half a crown off your weekly allowance to-morrow.” She did not answer. “My best plan,” he went on, “will be to draw it all up in black and white, so that we can have a clear and proper understandin’ one with the other. We must have a proper system of fines, same as they do in every well-regulated business. Fetch the pen and ink and paper.” “How would it be to fetch it for yourself?”