On our return to the ballroom there was some more dancing.  The last dance was the prettiest of them all.  Their Majesties took their places on the throne, stood watching with a pleased smile the procession of dancers who came in, four pairs at a time, from the last door of the ballroom.  In each group the four officers belonged to the same regiment.  First they danced a gavotte, and then twirled off in a waltz.  Then the other four couples came in.  There were forty or fifty couples altogether.  When they had all entered they formed a fan-shaped line and advanced toward their Majesties, making the deepest of courtesies.  Then they spread out and made a large circle.  The Emperor and the Empress bowed their thanks, and the dancers retired, and the orchestra sounded a fanfare.  The ball was over.  The Emperor offered his arm to the Empress, and all the Princes followed in the same order in which they had entered.  As we went through the long gallery servants handed glasses of hot punch about, which were very acceptable before going out in the cold air.  I happened to glance in the open door of a room we passed and saw a Mont Blanc of serviettes piled up to the ceiling, and next to that room was a regiment of soldiers wiping plates.

After the Schleppenkur and before the Kaiser’s birthday comes the Ordens Fest.  It is a yearly entertainment the Emperor gives to those who have received the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, the highest in rank of the elder members, and all the newly made.  Johan has just received the decoration.

Here every one sees all sorts of people, from cab-drivers to princes.  There is a luncheon for two thousand guests.  The Emperor and the Empress walk about and talk to as many as they can.  The other evening we went to the Winter Garden, and the head waiter said to Johan, “I have not seen you for a long time, your Excellency—­not since we lunched together at the Schloss at the Or dens Fest.”

BERLIN, 1903.

Dear L.,—­The dear old King of Denmark came to Berlin to pay a visit to the Emperor.  He arrived the night before last.  We went to fetch him at the station.  Johan was instructed to take rooms at the hotel for the suite, but the Emperor begged the King to stay at the Schloss, which he consented to do.  The next morning the Emperor came to Berlin and drove the King out to the Neues Palais at Potsdam, where there was a luncheon.  Johan said it was quite touching to see how tender and affectionate the Emperor is toward the King.  Johan and his secretary were the only persons present outside the family.  It was very amusing (Johan said) after luncheon to see the young Princess Victoria Louise and Prince Oscar, who went about with their fingers on their lips.  J. wondered why.  The Crown Prince told him that his young brother and sister talked so much that he had bribed them to keep silent for ten minutes and had promised them a mark each.  They got the two marks!  The Kaiser has great affection for the King.  His speech of welcome when he drank the King’s health at lunch was very touching.