midnight
As soon as he was arrived , they went in order to the Church ; the King led Madame , who wore also a close crown , her train being borne by Mademoiselles de Montpensier and Longueville ; the Queen came next , but without a crown ; after her followed the Queen-Dauphin , Madame the King 's sister , the Duchess of Loraine , and the Queen of Navarre , their trains being home by the Princesses ; the Queens and the Princesses were all of them attended with their maids of honour , who were richly dressed in the same colour which they wore themselves ; so that it was known by the colour of their habits whose maids they were : they mounted the place that was prepared in the Church , and there the marriage ceremonies were performed ; they returned afterwards to dine at the Bishop 's Palace , and went from thence about five o'clock to the Palace where the feast was , and where the Parliament , the Sovereign Courts , and the Corporation of the City were desired to assist . The King , the Queens , the Princes and Princesses sat at the marble table in the great hall of the Palace ; the Duke of Alva sat near the new Queen of Spain , below the steps of the marble table , and at the King 's right hand was a table for the ambassadors , the archbishops , and the Knights of the Order , and on the other side one for the Parliament . The Duke of Guise , dressed in a robe of cloth of gold frieze , served the King as Great Chamberlain ; the Prince of Conde as Steward of the Household , and the Duke de Nemours as Cup-bearer . After the tables were removed the ball began , and was interrupted by interludes and a great deal of extraordinary machinery ; then the ball was resumed , and after midnight the King and the whole Court returned to the Louvre . However full of grief Madam de Cleves was , she appeared in the eyes of all beholders , and particularly in those of the Duke de Nemours , incomparably beautiful . He durst not speak to her , though the hurry of the ceremony gave him frequent opportunities ; but he expressed so much sorrow and so respectful a fear of approaching her , that she no longer thought him to blame , though he had said nothing in his justification ; his conduct was the same the following days , and wrought the same effect on the heart of Madam de Cleves . At last the day of the tournament came ; the Queens were placed in the galleries that were prepared for them ; the four champions appeared at the end of the lists with a number of horses and liveries , the most magnificent sight that ever was seen in France .