Their Catholic Majesties testified much satisfaction to me at the diligence I had used; said that a single day would be sufficient for the ceremonies that had to be gone through (demanding the hand of the Infanta, according it, and signing the marriage contract).  Afterwards they asked me when all would be ready.  I replied it would be any day they pleased; because, as they wished to go into the country, I thought it would be best to throw no delay in their path.  They appeared much pleased at this reply, but would not fix the day, upon which I proposed the following Tuesday.  Overjoyed at this promptness, they fixed the Thursday for their departure, and left me with the best possible grace.

I had got over one difficulty, as I have shown, that connected with the first visits, but I had others yet to grapple with.  And first, there was my embarrassment at finding no letter for the Infanta.  I confided this fact to Grimaldo, who burst out laughing, was to have my first audience with the Infanta the next day, and it was then that the letter ought to be produced.  Grimaldo said he would arrange so that when I—­went, the governess should come into the antechamber, and say that the Infanta was asleep, and upon offering to awake her, I should refuse to allow her, take my leave, and wait until the letter from the King arrived before I visited her again.  Everything happened just as it had been planned, and thus the second obstacle which the crafty and malicious Cardinal had put in my path, for the sake of overturning me, was quietly got over.  Grimaldo’s kindness encouraged me to open my heart under its influence.  I found that the Spanish minister knew, quite as, well as I did, what manner of person Dubois was.

On Sunday, the 23rd, I had in the morning my first private audience of the King and Queen, together, in the Hall of Mirrors, which is the place where they usually give it.  I was accompanied by Maulevrier, our ambassador.  I presented to their Catholic Majesties the Comte de Lorge, the Comte de Cereste, my second son, and the Abbe de Saint-Simon and his bother.  I received many marks of goodness from the Queen in this audience.

On Tuesday, the 25th of November, I had my solemn audience.  I went to the palace in a magnificent coach, belonging to the King, drawn by eight grey horses, admirably dappled.  There were no postillions, and the coachman drove me, his hat under his arm.  Five of my coaches filled with my suite followed, and about twenty others (belonging to noblemen of the Court, and sent by them in order to do me honour), with gentlemen in each.  The King’s coach was surrounded by my musicians, liveried servants on foot, and by officers of my household.  On arriving at the open place in front of the palace, I thought myself at the Tuileries.  The regiments of Spanish guards, clad, officers and soldiers, like the French guards, and the regiment of the Walloon guards, clad, officers and, soldiers, like the Swiss guards, were under arms; the flags waved, the drums beat, and the officers saluted with the half-pike.  On the way, the streets were filled with people, the shops with dealers and artisans, all the windows were crowded.  Joy showed itself on every face, and we heard nothing but benedictions.