This is the first of a pair of scenes. A man sits up in bed, pulling back the bed-clothes to reveal his legs. His left leg is heavily bandaged, but he is recovering, and watches as his wife measures his leg with a ruler. The maid, the elaborately decorated bed linen, the ornamental head-board and the well-appointed bed-side table, all indicate a wealthy household. The reason for measuring the leg becomes apparent in panel 21b.
