As for the people, they seemed to have lost the power of speech, they stood dumb and looked at one another.
"Something has happened," said an old man to himself.
The crowd began to move, uncertainly at first, then with more animation and noise.
"What has happened ?" asked a bystander.
"My friend, what has happened now has thrown the world off its balance.
I do not know what it is, but it has thrown the world off its balance.
If it is not the end of the world, then it must be its beginning." "Inri! Inri!" shouted the voice of a shuddering lunatic.
Then there was a general shout.

"What is it?
It is dark! I've never been so terrified in all my days." "Look at the cross! It's growing longer! Higher, ever higher, higher! I can't see the top of it! It's a giant cross!" Then came news.

"A pillar has fallen in the Temple.

The curtain of the Holy of Holies has been rent in twain.

Outside, in the cemetery, the tombs have opened and the dead wrapped in their white shrouds have risen from them." "The end of the world!" "The beginning of the world!" "Jesus Christ!" * * * * * * "JESUS CHRIST!" rustles through the crowd like the spring breezes over the desert.