Ever since he married Georgiana, Aylmer has been trying to persuade her to let him remove the unsightly birthmark on her face. Now, at long last, she’s relented to his insistent persuasion and has agreed to allow him to perform the operation.

The operation is due to be performed in Aylmer’s laboratory. But before the operation can take place, Aylmer transforms the laboratory into a suite of beautiful apartments. Aylmer clearly believes that a laboratory is no place for a woman, especially one as beautiful, elegant, and refined as Georgiana. Aylmer’s lab is a smoky, dingy, inhospitable place, certainly not somewhere one would choose to spend much time. Furthermore, Aylmer wants to assure Georgiana that all will be well during her forthcoming operation, so he wants to make his laboratory look as little like a laboratory as humanly possible.

Before Georgiana crosses the threshold of Aylmer’s laboratory for the first time—and, as it turns out, also the last—Aylmer transforms what had been his own private kingdom into a series of beautiful apartments, complete with gorgeous curtains, that impart a rare combination of grandeur and grace. Ultimately, Aylmer is trying to make Georgiana feel comfortable with her new surroundings before he carries out the operation.