The etiquette of the Spanish Court, although it was much modified by Alfonso XII., is still very formal. A perfectly infinite number of _mayordomos, caballerizos, gentiles hombres de casa y boca, ujieres, alabarderos, monteros_, aides-de-camp, _Grandes de España de servicio_, ladies-in-waiting, lackeys, servants, and attendants of every possible description abound. A man going to an audience with royalty uncovers as he enters the Palace. First, he will find the _alabardero de servicio_ placed at the entrance of the vestibule; farther on, more _alabarderos_. Whenever a Grande de España, a prelate, a grand cross, or a title of Castile passes, these guards strike the marble floor with their arms--a noise which may well cause the uninitiated to start. Three halls are used for grouping, according to their rank, those who are about to be presented: first, the _saleta_, where ordinary people--all the world, in fact--wait; next, the _cámara_, for those who have titles or wear the grand cross; third, the _antecámara_, reserved for the Grandes of Spain, and _gentiles hombres en ejercio_. The Grandes of Spain, chamberlains of the King, share between them the service of his Majesty. They are called in rotation, one day's notice being given before they are expected to attend in the Palace. In the ante-chamber of the King there is always the _Grande_ in waiting, the lady-in-waiting on the Queen, two aides-de-camp, and a _gentil hombre del interior_ (the last must not be confounded with the _gentiles hombres en ejercicio_, who have the right to enter the ante-chamber). There are, of course, equerries (_caballerizos_) who attend, as ours do, on horseback, when the King or Queen goes out; but the most essentially Spanish attendants are the Monteros de Espinosa, who have the exclusive right to watch while Royalty sleeps. These attendants must all be born in Espinosa; it is an hereditary honour, and the wives of the existing Monteros are careful to go to Espinosa when they expect an addition to their family, as no one not actually born there can hold the office. At the present time this guard is recruited from captains or lieutenants on the retired list.