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.
He heard those around him disputing in whispers and one of them insisting that he should be led along a certain carpet.