{"product_id":"2940013774476","title":"The Joyful Delaneys","description":"'Happy New Year!' Fred Delaney said, standing in the doorway and\u003cbr\u003esmiling at the in-no-way beautiful person of Mr. Munden.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe had switched on the electric light, and the illumination\u003cbr\u003erevealed Patrick Munden lying half in, half out of the bedclothes.\u003cbr\u003eNo, he was not beautiful, his thin pointed face unshaven, his black\u003cbr\u003ehair spread about the pillow, his lean body protected from the cold\u003cbr\u003eby pyjamas, grey with blood-red stripes, by no means so fresh as\u003cbr\u003ethey should be.  The light pressed on Munden's eyes and he opened\u003cbr\u003ethem, stared wildly about him, then, cursing, buried his face in\u003cbr\u003ethe pillow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Happy New Year!' Delaney said again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'What the hell--'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Eight-thirty.  You asked me as a special favour to call you.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMunden raised his head and stared at Delaney.  It was not a bad-\u003cbr\u003elooking face.  The blue eyes were good, the forehead broad and\u003cbr\u003eclear, the chin finely pointed.  He looked clever and peevish and\u003cbr\u003ehungry.  He stretched himself, his open pyjama jacket showing a\u003cbr\u003echest skeletonic and hairy.  He rubbed his eyes with a hairy wrist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Oh, it's you, is it?  Let me sleep, can't you?'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDelaney watched him with genial good temper.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I'm doing you a favour.  You said last night it would be the\u003cbr\u003egreatest of your life.  You have to see the editor of something or\u003cbr\u003eother at ten sharp.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'He can go to hell.  Turn the light off and let me sleep.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'You said I was to drag you out of bed if necessary--that your\u003cbr\u003ewhole life depended on your getting there at ten.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Well, it doesn't.  Let me sleep, can't you?'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'All right.  But I'll leave the light on . . .'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'No, don't go.'  Munden sat up, blinking.  'How damnably fresh you\u003cbr\u003elook!  It's revolting.  You were up till three, I don't doubt--'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I was,' Delaney said cheerfully.  'I don't need a lot of sleep.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Well, I do. . . .  Oh, blast!  Why did I ever tell you anything\u003cbr\u003eabout it?'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'You were very serious.  Most earnest.  You said you must begin the\u003cbr\u003eNew Year properly.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Speaking of which, can you lend me a fiver?' Munden asked.  'Only\u003cbr\u003efor a week.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Afraid I haven't got such a thing,' Delaney said, laughing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Hang it all, I paid you the rent only a week ago--'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Thanks very much.  But those are the terms, you know.  If you\u003cbr\u003edon't pay you go.  Although we'd hate to lose you.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMunden sighed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Look in the trousers, old man, will you?  They're hanging over the\u003cbr\u003echair.  See if there's anything there.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDelaney looked in the trousers and found half a crown, some\u003cbr\u003ecoppers, a lipstick and a half-filled packet of cigarettes.  He\u003cbr\u003elaid these things on the dressing-table.","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47083245306096,"sku":"2940013774476","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013774476_p0.jpg?v=1763590085","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013774476","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}