It is the custom for diplomats to engage for the evening a _Schutzmann_--a heavy mounted policeman. Our particular one was waiting for us before our house and rode by the side of our carriage until we arrived at the entrance of the _Schloss_. He looked very important, but I do not think he was of much use. However, it seems that a _Schutzmann_ comes under the chapter of _Noblesse oblige_, and we took him. He did a great deal of horsemanship, but never dared to disobey the chief policeman's orders, and when we arrived at Portal 4 we had to wait for the file like other people. He did not call up our carriage at the end, but had to be called up himself by the police force; then he appeared, bristling with energy, and galloped at our horses' heads to our door, where we laid our offering in his hand and bade him good night. The _Schutzmann_ is one of our privileges and nuisances. I felt sorry for people who had been standing in the cold street for hours to watch the procession of carriages and the gala coaches (which the Ambassadors use on this occasion), because they only get a glimpse through the frost-covered windows of glittering uniforms and dazzling diamonds. Your dress (instructions as to which are printed even to the smallest detail on the back of your invitation) must be a ball-dress, with a train four meters long, short sleeves, and a _décolletage_ of the Victorian period, and white kid (_glacé_) gloves. [Illustration: EMPEROR WILHELM IN THE UNIFORM OF THE GUARDS] [Illustration: THE EMPRESS OF GERMANY ON HER FAVORITE MOUNT] We arrived at the Wendel entrance and mounted the long and fatiguing staircase before we reached the second story where the state apartments are. In the hall of the _corps de garde_ were several masters of ceremony, who received us with deep bows. I wondered what certain large baskets which looked like clothes-baskets were, and was told that ladies wearing boas or lace wraps around their shoulders were expected to drop them into these baskets. They would then be conveyed to the other staircase, where, after the ceremony, we would find our servants and carriages--and, we hoped, our boas! We passed through different rooms where groups of ladies were assembled. The _Corps Diplomatique_ filled two rooms. The ladies were in the first one, which leads to the Throne Room. The Hungarian and Russian ladies wear their national costumes, which are very striking and make them all look like exotic queens. The English ladies wear the three feathers and the long tulle white veil, which make them look like brides. We others wear what we like, ball-dresses of every hue, and all our jewels. No one can find fault with us if our trains, our _décolletage_, our sleeves and gloves, are not according to regulations.