It swung so softly in the outset that it scarcely made a sound ; but soon it rang out loudly , and so did every bell in the house . This might have lasted half a minute , or a minute , but it seemed an hour . The bells ceased , as they had begun , together . They were succeeded by a clanking noise , deep down below , as if some person were dragging a heavy chain over the casks in the wine merchant 's cellar . Scrooge then remembered to have heard that ghosts in haunted houses were described as dragging chains . The cellar door flew open with a booming sound , and then he heard the noise much louder on the floors below ; then coming up the stairs ; then coming straight towards his door . `` It 's humbug still ! '' said Scrooge . `` I wo n't believe it . '' His colour changed , though , when , without a pause , it came on through the heavy door , and passed into the room before his eyes . Upon its coming in , the dying flame leaped up , as though it cried , `` I know him ! Marley 's Ghost ! '' and fell again . The same face : the very same . Marley in his pigtail , usual waistcoat , tights , and boots ; the tassels on the latter bristling , like his pigtail , and his coat-skirts , and the hair upon his head . The chain he drew was clasped about his middle . It was long , and wound about him like a tail ; and it was made -LRB- for Scrooge observed it closely -RRB- of cash-boxes , keys , padlocks , ledgers , deeds , and heavy purses wrought in steel . His body was transparent ; so that Scrooge , observing him , and looking through his waistcoat , could see the two buttons on his coat behind . Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no bowels , but he had never believed it until now . No , nor did he believe it even now .
Though he looked the phantom through and XXXXX , and saw it standing before him ; though he felt the chilling influence of its death-cold eyes ; and marked the very texture of the folded kerchief bound about its head and chin , which wrapper he had not observed before ; he was still incredulous , and fought against his senses .
about as behind below for through to until upon without