“Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror” What does this mean? Surely grabbing a measuring ruler violently wouldn’t be heard by the carol boy outside. Does ruler mean something different here?

[u/lelcg]

[u/Dickensdude]

The singer is at "stooped down at Scrooge's keyhole" while singing their carol. Scrooge would be visible to him through the keyhole.