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2 February 1873 — Madrid | |
Sunday. 2nd February [1873]. Painted in the morning & dressed in train &c to go to the baptism of the Infante. Wore a blue tulle dress with roses & pink silk train. We went at ¼ to 12. Got with difficulty thro’ a crowd in the corridor & into the chapel the Dips had a place a past opposite the King’s dais. We waited a long time. It was very cold. At last came the King & the Infante held by Mme Mendez Leal & attended by Mme Prim & the Css Almina. The organ struck up & the ceremony began. Nobody could see what was going on as the priests entirely surrounded the font wh was on a dais. Somebody talked all the time. The King stood under the dais & looked about him– Mme Almina stood below looking lovely in a high white satin gown & train trimmed with lace & with a mantilla on her head secured by a little round Css’s coronet in gold. The ceremony took abt 20 minutes when they went off. The Portuguese Min: & Mme Mendez Leal represented the K & Q of Portugal who were sponsors. After the ceremony we lunched & changed our clothes & Henry took me for a walk & I went first to the Dragonettis while Henry went to the F.O. I found Drag: had not yet had time to change his clothes & met there Del Cerro who was still in uniform & had there & then an order given him by the King. Dragonetti said he must go out to take Mme Almina an order from the King also. We had a short walk & went home. Henry went to the banquet given in honor of the K of Portugal. Silvela & the Dss de la Torre came to dine with me & Mr Seymour & Mr Haggart & Mr Gayangos. After dinner we began to talk about robberies &c the Dss got so nervous she would not wait to see Henry on his return from the Palace but went away early. Henry told us what had happened at the dinner. How that Del Cerro had wanted to inform the French Ambr that Mendez Leal on the occasion was to have the 1st place– How Bouillé was furious. It appears that while they were arguing the King appeared with Mme Mendez Leal on his arm & went thro’ to dinner without stopping & Bouillé finding himself in the background began to elbow & push his way into the dining room & sat himself down in the 1st place (on the right of the Queen’s empty chair) & began to read the menu– Del Cerro persuaded him at last to get up & Mendez Leal who had been standing behind his chair meekly waiting sat down while Bouillé made a speech to the King & Mendes L. saying that out of respect for the King & the K of Portugal who had lately given him an order “je cède ma place mais je réserve mes doits.” We had no letters today again & now hear that the postmen have struck so that even if the Carlists let the mails pass we shall have no means of getting our letters. | |
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