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.

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 altoge