The Empress was followed by a second tall young officer.  He wore a red uniform and a hat with a high red feather, easily seen from a distance.  Countess Brockdorf, to distinguish her from other ladies, wears a long black mantilla on her head and looks like a duegne a l’Espagnole.  The other ladies of honor stand near the Empress in the background.  I forgot to say that the wives of foreign Ministers have fauteuils on their platform, behind which stand their secretaries’ wives.

The ball was opened by the Crown Prince, who danced with the youngest demoiselle d’honneur, then the other princely couples joined.  None but the princes have the privilege of dancing at first.  The valse a deux temps only is permitted.  The court likes better the old-fashioned method of revolving in circles round and round the room, but occasionally it permits the lancers.

The young ladies and gentlemen, who had been practising their dancing for weeks, began their gavotte.  The ancient ballet-danseuse sat up under an arch in the ceiling, and held up a warning finger if any mistake happened.  The dances they learn are gavottes and minuets, which are very ingeniously arranged.  Some of the officers looked rather awkward when they had to point their toes or gaze in the eyes of their partners.  During one of these dances the Empress went off into the gallery, next to the ballroom, and ladies new to the court were brought up and presented to her.

Princess Henry and Princess Leopold then made the tour of the guests.  Each time a royal person came to speak to us we were obliged to descend from our platform, in order to be on the same level.  The Emperor talked with all the ladies.  To me he spoke in English, which, of course, he speaks perfectly.  He was dressed in a Hussar uniform, and held his casque in his left hand, and offered his right.  He showed me a new decoration he had just received from the Sultan.  He pointed out the splendid diamonds, and seemed very pleased with it.

A Vortaenzer (the leader of the dance) is chosen in the beginning of the season.  His duty is to arrange all balls and lead all cotillions that are given by society during the winter.  He gives advice, indicates the officers who dance well—­in fact, arranges everything.  The young people pass three delightful flirtatious weeks learning these gavottes and minuets.  Many a happy couple date their bliss from those dancing-lessons.

As I knew who was to take me in to supper, I waited in my place until my partner, the Minister of Justice, came to fetch me.  I was very happy to be portioned off to such a charming gentleman.  We were told to go in the Marine Room, where were the Emperor and the Empress.  Each Prince had a table for twelve, over which he presided.  At ours was Prince Adalbert, the Emperor’s naval son.  A supper for two thousand guests sounds rather formidable, does it not?  With a slight difference in favor of the first three rooms, the same supper is served to all.  A supper here is just like a dinner, beginning with soup, two warm dishes, an entree, dessert, fruit, and coffee.