'Happy New Year!' Fred Delaney said, standing in the doorway andsmiling at the in-no-way beautiful person of Mr. Munden.He had switched on the electric light, and the illuminationrevealed Patrick Munden lying half in, half out of the bedclothes.No, h... Read more

'Happy New Year!' Fred Delaney said, standing in the doorway andsmiling at the in-no-way beautiful person of Mr. Munden.He had switched on the electric light, and the illuminationrevealed Patrick Munden lying half in, half out of the bedclothes.No, he was not beautiful, his thin pointed face unshaven, his blackhair spread about the pillow, his lean body protected from the coldby pyjamas, grey with blood-red stripes, by no means so fresh asthey should be. The light pressed on Munden's eyes and he openedthem, stared wildly about him, then, cursing, buried his face inthe pillow.'Happy New Year!' Delaney said again.'What the hell--''Eight-thirty. You asked me as a special favour to call you.'Munden raised his head and stared at Delaney. It was not a bad-looking face. The blue eyes were good, the forehead broad andclear, the chin finely pointed. He looked clever and peevish andhungry. He stretched himself, his open pyjama jacket showing achest skeletonic and hairy. He rubbed his eyes with a hairy wrist.'Oh, it's you, is it? Let me sleep, can't you?'Delaney watched him with genial good temper.'I'm doing you a favour. You said last night it would be thegreatest of your life. You have to see the editor of something orother at ten sharp.''He can go to hell. Turn the light off and let me sleep.''You said I was to drag you out of bed if necessary--that yourwhole life depended on your getting there at ten.''Well, it doesn't. Let me sleep, can't you?''All right. But I'll leave the light on . . .''No, don't go.' Munden sat up, blinking. 'How damnably fresh youlook! It's revolting. You were up till three, I don't doubt--''I was,' Delaney said cheerfully. 'I don't need a lot of sleep.''Well, I do. . . . Oh, blast! Why did I ever tell you anythingabout it?''You were very serious. Most earnest. You said you must begin theNew Year properly.''Speaking of which, can you lend me a fiver?' Munden asked. 'Onlyfor a week.''Afraid I haven't got such a thing,' Delaney said, laughing.'Hang it all, I paid you the rent only a week ago--''Thanks very much. But those are the terms, you know. If youdon't pay you go. Although we'd hate to lose you.'Munden sighed.'Look in the trousers, old man, will you? They're hanging over thechair. See if there's anything there.'Delaney looked in the trousers and found half a crown, somecoppers, a lipstick and a half-filled packet of cigarettes. Helaid these things on the dressing-table. Less