Hushed was the boisterous mirth, while men and women, seized with nameless terror, watched the hand slowly tracing the mysterious characters. Before them passed, as in panoramic view, the deeds of their evil lives; they seemed to be arraigned before the judgment bar of the eternal God, whose power they had just defied. Where but a few moments before had been hilarity and blasphemous witticism, were pallid faces and cries of fear. When God makes men fear, they cannot hide the intensity of their terror.

Den larmende munterhed stilnede af, og både mænd og kvinder sad i stum skræk og iagttog hånden, som langsomt skrev de hemmelighedsfulde bogstaver. Alt det onde, som de havde gjort i livet, passerede revy for deres øjne. De følte det, som om de blev kaldt frem for den evige Dommer, hvis magt de netop havde foragtet. Hvor der for få øjeblikke siden lød muntre råb og spottende vittigheder, hørtes der nu angstfyldte skrig fra ligblege mennesker. Når Gud gør menneskene bange, kan de ikke skjule deres angst.