Books: Barbed Nonsense

MR. PETRE—Hilaire Belloc (Illustrated by G. K. Chesterton)—McBride ($2.50). When the grey little man in the taxi ejaculated "Petrel" and hastily explained he was talking to himself, the cabbie smiled sympathetically. But the clerk at the Hotel Splendide knew better. He completed the name most deferentially—John K. Petre—without being told. And Mrs. Celia Cyril (whoever she was) seemed enchanted with John K. Petre (whoever he was). The two ex-chancellors agreed, the Old Cabinet Minister hemmed affably. So the little grey man guessed he was John K. Petre without doubt, evidently a U....