fire-cage

“On the male side Dickens presents: three men engaged in a game of bagatelle; another patient kneeling against the wall apparently deep in prayer; two walking rapidly up and down the long gallery arm-in-arm, but, as usual, without speaking together; a handsome young man deriving intense gratification from the motion of his fingers as he plays with them in the air; two men standing like pillars before the fire-cage; one man, with a newspaper under his arm, walking with great rapidity from one end of the corridor to the other, as if engaged in some important mission which admitted of not a moments delay.”

Simon & Schuster: Bedlam