These,thepeopletoretopiecesandscatteredfarandwidewithgreatenjoyment,whilethetradesmenhurriedlyshutuptheirshops;foracrowdinthosetimesstoppedatnothing,andwasamonstermuchdreaded.Theyhadalreadygotthelengthofopeningthehearsetotakethecoffinout,whensomebrightergeniusproposedinstead,itsbeingescortedtodestinationamidstgeneralrejoicing.Practicalsuggestionsbeingmuchneeded,thissuggestion,too,wasreceivedwithacclamation,andthecoachwasimmediatelyfilledwitheightinsideandadozenout,whileasmanypeoplegotontheroofofthehearseascouldbyanyexerciseofingenuitystickuponit.AmongthefirstofthesevolunteerswasJerryCruncherhimself,whomodestlyconcealedhisspikyheadfromtheobservationofTellson\'s,inthefurthercornerofthemourningcoach.
Theofficiatingundertakersmadesomeprotestagainstthesechangesintheceremonies;but,theriverbeingalarminglynear,andseveralvoicesremarkingontheefficacyofcoldimmersioninbringingrefractorymembersoftheprofessiontoreason,theprotestwasfaintandbrief.Theremodelledprocessionstarted,withachimney-sweepdrivingthehearse——advisedbytheregulardriver,whowasperchedbesidehim,undercloseinspection,forthepurpose——andwithapieman,alsoattendedbyhiscabinetminister,drivingthemourningcoach.Abear-leader,apopularstreetcharacterofthetime,wasimpressedasanadditionalornament,beforethecavalcadehadgonefardowntheStrand;andhisbear,whowasblackandverymangy,gavequiteanUndertakingairtothatpartoftheprocessioninwhichhewalked.
Thus,withbeer-drinking,pipe-smoking,song-roaring,andinfinitecaricaturingofwoe,thedisorderlyprocessionwentitsway,recruitingateverystep,andalltheshopsshuttingupbeforeit.ItsdestinationwastheoldchurchofSaintPancras,faroffinthefields.Itgotthereincourseoftime;insistedonpouringintotheburial-ground;finally,accomplishedtheintermentofthedeceasedRogerClyinitsownway,andhighlytoitsownsatisfaction.
Thedeadmandisposedof,andthecrowdbeingunderthenecessityofprovidingsomeotherentertainmentforitself,anotherbrightergeniusorperhapsthesameconceivedthehumourofimpeachingcasualpassersby,asOldBaileyspies,andwreakingvengeanceonthem.ChasewasgiventosomescoresofinoffensivepersonswhohadneverbeenneartheOldBaileyintheirlives,intherealisationofthisfancy,andtheywereroughlyhustledandmaltreated.Thetransitiontothesportofwindow-breaking,andthencetotheplunderingofpublic-houses,waseasyandnatural.Atlast,afterseveralhours,whensundrysummerhouseshadbeenpulleddowandsomearea-railingshadbeentornup,toarmthemorebelligerentspirits,arumourgotaboutthattheGuardswecoming.Beforethisrumour,thecrowdgraduallymeltedaway,andperhapstheGuardscame,andperhapstheynevercame,andthiswastheusualprogressofamob.
Mr.Cruncherdidnotassistattheclosingsports,huthadremainedbehindinthechurchyard,toconferandcondolewiththeundertakers.Theplacehadasoothinginfluenceonhim.Heprocuredapipefromaneighbouringpublichouse,andsmokedit,lookinginattherailingsandmaturelyconsideringthespot.