Pierre, who was acquainted with the ceremonial, of which he had often spoken with Narcisse, recognised the different apartments as he passed through them, recalling their names and purpose, and peopling them in imagination with the various officials of the papal retinue who have the right to occupy them.

These according to their rank cannot go beyond certain doors, so that the persons who are to have audience of the Pope are passed on from the servants to the Noble Guards, from the Noble Guards to the honorary _Camerieri_, and from the latter to the _Camerieri segreti_, until they at last reach the presence of the Holy Father.

At eight o'clock, however, the ante-rooms empty and become both deserted and dim, only a few lamps being left alight upon the pier tables standing here and there against the walls.
And first Pierre came to the ante-room of the _bussolanti_, mere ushers clad in red velvet broidered with the papal arms, who conduct visitors to the door of the ante-room of honour.

At that late hour only one of them was left there, seated on a bench in such a dark corner that his purple tunic looked quite black.

Then the Hall of the Gendarmes was crossed, where according to the regulations the secretaries of cardinals and other high personages await their masters' return; and this was now completely empty, void both of the handsome blue uniforms with white shoulder belts and the cassocks of fine black cloth which mingled in it during the brilliant reception hours.