eight o’clock
Thereupon at a leisurely step , one behind the other , they began to thread the interminable suite of waiting-rooms . 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 can not 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 .