So saying, I jumped into the fiacre, and in a few minutes found myself in the long line of carriages that led to the “Hof saal.”  Any one who has been in Munich will testify for me, that the ball room is one of the most beautiful in Europe, and to me who for some time had not been living much in the world, its splendour was positively dazzling.  The glare of the chandeliers—­the clang of the music—­the magnificence of the dresses—­the beauty of the Bavarian women too, all surprized and amazed me.  There were several hundred people present, but the king not having yet arrived, dancing had not commenced.  Feeling as I then did, it was rather a relief to me than otherwise, that I knew no one.  There was quite amusement enough in walking through the saloons, observing the strange costumes, and remarking the various groups as they congregated around the trays of ices and the champagne glacee.  The buzz of talking and the sounds of laughter and merriment prevailed over even the orchestra; and, as the gay crowds paraded the rooms, all seemed pleasure and excitement.  Suddenly a tremendous noise was heard without—­then came a loud roll of the drums, which lasted for several seconds, and the clank of musketry—­then a cheer;—­it is the king.

The king! resounded on all sides; and in another moment the large folding-doors at the end of the saal were thrown open, and the music struck up the national anthem of Bavaria.

His majesty entered, accompanied by the queen, his brother, two or three archduchesses, and a long suite of officers.

I could not help remarking upon the singular good taste with which the assembly—­all anxious and eager to catch a glimpse of his majesty —­behaved on this occasion.  There was no pressing forward to the “estrade” where he stood,—­no vulgar curiosity evinced by any one, but the group continued, as before, to gather and scatter.  The only difference being, that the velvet chair and cushion, which had attracted some observers before, were, now that they were tenanted by royalty, passed with a deep and respectful salutation.  How proper this, thought I, and what an inducement for a monarch to come among his people, who remember to receive him with such true politeness.  While these thoughts were passing through my mind, as I was leaning against a pillar that supported the gallery of the orchestra, a gentleman whose dress, covered with gold and embroidery, bespoke him as belonging to the court, eyed me aside with his lorgnette and then passed rapidly on.  A quadrille was now forming near me, and I was watching, with some interest, the proceeding, when the same figure that I remarked before, approached me, bowing deeply at every step, and shaking a very halo of powder from his hair at each reverence.

“May I take the liberty of introducing myself to you?” said he.—­“Le Comte Benningsen.”  Here he bowed again, and I returned the obeisance still deeper.  “Regretted much that I was not fortunate enough to make your acquaintance this evening, when I called upon you.”