When evening came, Scrooge allowed Cratchit to leave earlier, more out of disinterest than out of generosity. He finished the day's work alone and closed tge establishment late, when there was nobody left in the streets and when the winter night had fallen. After long minutes walking alone in the snow, Scrooge finally arrived in front of his door and unlocked it with his key... only when he looked up, something had changed in the knocker. It looked like a human head. And not just any head, it seemed familiar. Of course, it looked in every way like Jacob Marley, deceased 7 years ago to the day! Up to the scarf his corpse wore around his head to keep his mouth shut! Incredulous, Scrooge attempted to touch the knocker... which immediately opened its mouth and its eyes. Terrified, Scrooge rushed in and locked himself up inside

A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley © Charles Dickens
Drawing © me