The King, the Dauphin and Dauphiness, the Duke and Duchess of
Orleans, appeared at the fete, but not in costume. Charles X. came
after the hour of giving out the general orders. The Dauphin, the
Dauphiness, and the Duke of Orleans arrived at 8 P.M. The entry of
the four queens, Mary Stuart, Marie of Lorraine, Catharine de'
Medici, Jeanne d'Albret, was announced by the band of the
bodyguards which preceded them. The cortege was magnificent, the
costumes of the princes and their ladies resplendent. To increase
its richness, the Dauphiness had lent not only her own jewels, but
a part of those of the crown. The invited guests not taking part
in the cortege occupied places already assigned them. They wore a
uniform costume of silver gauze and white satin. This coolness of
tone produced a charming effect when at the arrival of the cortege
all rose. In the ball-room a platform had been prepared with a
throne for Mary Stuart. The Duchess of Berry, as the famous queen,
wore with great grace a dazzling toilet--crown of diamonds, high
collar, blue velvet robe with wide sleeves, front of white satin
bordered with ermine. The Duke of Chartres, a handsome boy and
brilliant cavalier, as King Francis II., wore a cap with white
plumes, and a dark blue velvet doublet with ornaments of gold. His
brother, the Duke of Nemours, fourteen years old, was in the
character of a page to the King, with a white satin doublet, and
recalled in his features the youth of Henry IV.
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