Six o'clock
The door of the room next to M. de Guersaint 's softly opened and a woman , clad in black , slipped into the passage . As she turned , she found herself face to face with Pierre , in such a fashion that it was impossible for them to pretend not to recognise each other . The woman was Madame Volmar . Six o'clock had not yet struck , and she was going off , hoping that nobody would notice her , with the intention of showing herself at the hospital , and there spending this last morning , in order , in some measure , to justify her journey to Lourdes . When she perceived Pierre , she began to tremble , and , at first , could only stammer : `` Oh , Monsieur l'Abbe , Monsieur l'Abbe ! '' Then , noticing that the priest had left his door wide open , she seemed to give way to the fever consuming her , to a need of speaking out , explaining things and justifying herself . With her face suffused by a rush of blood she entered the young man 's room , whither he had to follow her , greatly disturbed by this strange adventure .