A bass voice (Pierre was still blindfolded) questioned him as to who he was, when and where he was born, and so on.

Then he was again led somewhere still blindfolded, and as they went along he was told allegories of the toils of his pilgrimage, of holy friendship, of the Eternal Architect of the universe, and of the courage with which he should endure toils and dangers.

During these wanderings, Pierre noticed that he was spoken of now as the "Seeker," now as the "Sufferer," and now as the "Postulant," to the accompaniment of various knockings with mallets and swords.

As he was being led up to some object he noticed a hesitation and uncertainty among his conductors.