BOX. It's quite extraordinary, the trouble I always have to get rid of that venerable female! She knows I'm up all night, and yet she seems to set her face against my indulging in a horizontal position by day. Now, let me see--shall I take my nap before I swallow my breakfast, or shall I take my breakfast before I swallow my nap--I mean, shall I swallow my nap before--no--never mind! I've got a rasher of bacon somewhere--[_Feeling in his pockets_]--I've the most distinct and vivid recollection of having purchased a rasher of bacon--Oh, here it is--[_Produces it, wrapped in paper, and places it on table._]--and a penny roll. The next thing is to light the fire. Where are my lucifers? [_Looking on mantel-piece R., and taking box, opens it._] Now, 'pon my life, this is too bad of Bouncer--this is, by several degrees, too bad! I had a whole box full, three days ago, and now there's only one! I'm perfectly aware that she purloins my coals and my candles, and my sugar--but I did think--oh, yes, I did think that my lucifers would be sacred! [_Takes candlestick off the mantel-piece, R., in which there is a very small end of candle--looks at it._] Now I should like to ask any unprejudiced person or persons their opinion touching this candle. In the first place, a candle is an article that I don't require, because I'm only at home in the day time--and I bought this candle on the first of May--Chimney-sweepers' Day--calculating that it would last me three months, and here's one week not half over, and the candle three parts gone! [_Lights the fire--then takes down a gridiron, which is hanging over the fireplace, R._] Mrs. Bouncer has been using my gridiron! The last article of consumption that I cooked upon it was a pork chop, and now it is powerfully impregnated with the odour of red herrings! [_Places gridiron on fire, and then, with a fork, lays rasher of bacon on the gridiron._] How sleepy I am, to be sure! I'd indulge myself with a nap, if there was anybody here to superintend the turning of my bacon. [_Yawning again._] Perhaps it will turn itself. I must lie down--so, here goes. [_Lies on the bed, closing the curtains round him--after a short pause--_ _Enter COX, hurriedly, L. C._