would not stir.  The whip was vigorously applied; results—­rearing, snorting, fury, the carriage in danger of being upset.  Time was flying; I begged the Duc de Liria, therefore, to get into my carriage, so that we might not keep the King and the company waiting for us.  It was in vain I represented to him that this function of godfather would in no way be affected by changing his own coach for mine, since it would be by necessity.  He would not listen to me.  The horses continued their game for a good half hour before they consented to start.

All my cortege followed us, for I wished by this display to show the King of Spain how highly I appreciated the honours of his Court.  On the way the horses again commenced their pranks.  I again pressed the Duc de Liria to change his coach, and he again refused.  Fortunately the pause this time was much shorter than at first; but before we reached the end of our journey there came a message to say that the King was waiting for us.  At last we arrived, and as soon as the King was informed of it he entered the room where the chapter of the order was assembled.  He straightway sat himself down in an armchair, and while the rest of the company were placing themselves in position; the Queen, the Princess of the Asturias, and their suite, seated themselves as simple spectators at the end of the room.

All the chapter having arranged themselves in order, the door in front of the King, by which we had entered, was closed, my son remaining outside with a number of the courtiers.  Then the King covered himself, and all the chevaliers at the same time, in the midst of a silence, without sign, which lasted as long as a little prayer.  After this, the King very briefly proposed that the Vidame de Chartres should be received into the order.  All the chevaliers uncovered themselves, made an inclination, without rising, and covered themselves again.  After another silence, the King called the Duc de Liria, who uncovered himself, and with a reverence approached the King; by whom he was thus addressed:  “Go and see if the Vidame de Chartres is not somewhere about here.”

The Duc de Liria made another reverence to the King, but none to the chevaliers (who, nevertheless, were uncovered at the same time as he), went away, the door was closed upon him, and the chevaliers covered themselves again.  The reverences just made, and those I shall have occasion to speak of in the course of my description, were the same as are seen at the receptions of the chevaliers of the Saint-Esprit, and in all grand ceremonies.

The Duc de Liria remained outside nearly a quarter of an hour, because it is assumed that the new chevalier is ignorant of the proposition made for him, and that it is only by chance he is found in the palace, time being needed in order to look for him.  The Duc de Liria returned, and immediately after the door was again closed, and he advanced to the King, as before, saying that the Vidame de Chartres was in the other room.