Thelongnightsofwinterdistressedme，forIhadtopassnineteenmortalhoursindarkness；andonthecloudydays，whicharecommonenoughatVenice，thelightIhadwasnotsufficientformetobeabletoread。WithoutanydistractionsIfellbackontheideaofmyescape，andamanwhoalwaysthinksononesubjectisindangerofbecomingamonomaniac。Awretchedkitchen—lampwouldhavemademehappy，buthowamItogetsuchathing？Oblessedprerogativeofthought！howhappywasIwhenIthoughtIhadfoundawaytopossessmyselfofsuchatreasure！TomakesuchalampIrequiredavase，wicks，oil，aflintandsteel，tinder，andmatches。Aporringerwoulddoforthevase，andIhadonewhichwasusedforcookingeggsinbutter。Pretendingthatthecommonoildidnotagreewithme，I
gotthemtobuymeLuccaoilformysalad，andmycottoncounterpanewouldfurnishmewithwicks。IthensaidIhadthetoothache，andaskedLawrencetogetmeapumice—stone，butashedidnotknowwhatImeantItoldhimthatamusket—flintwoulddoaswellifitweresoakedinvinegarforaday，and，thenbeingappliedtothetooththepainwouldbeeased。LawrencetoldmethatthevinegarIhadwasexcellent，andthatIcouldsoakthestonemyself，andhegavemethreeorfourflintshehadinhispocket。AllIhadtodowastogetsomesulphurandtinder，andtheprocuringofthesetwoarticlessetallmywitstowork。Atlastfortunecametomyassistance。
Ihadsufferedfromakindofrash，whichasitcameoffhadleftsomeredspotsonmyarms，andoccasionallycausedmesomeirritation。ItoldLawrencetoaskthedoctorforacure，andthenextdayhebroughtmeapieceofpaperwhichthesecretaryhadseen，andonwhichthedoctorhadwritten，\"Regulatethefoodforaday，andtheskinwillbecuredbyfourouncesofoilofsweetalmondsoranointmentofflourofsulphur，butthislocalapplicationishazardous。\"
\"Nevermindthedanger，\"saidItoLawrence；\"buymetheointment，orrathergetmethesulphur，asIhavesomebutterbyme，andIcanmakeitupmyself。Haveyouanymatches？Givemeafew。\"
Hefoundsomeinhispockets，andhegavemethem。