One morning we met the Maestro on the stairs—J. had the studio next door to his. “Just in time!” cried Villegas. “I was afraid I should not get you. They have telephoned from the palace that
VILLEGAS IN HIS STUDIO.
we must meet the Prince and Princess of Wales at the museum. They haven’t given me time enough even to go home and put on a black coat.”
Villegas had on his funny little blue studio jacket, buttoned up to the neck, a jacket not quite like any other; he designed it for himself when he was a student. I never saw him in any other coat, except when on Court duty.
It was so late that Villegas and J. jumped into a cab; Patsy and I followed them on foot.
“We are in time,” said Patsy, as we drew near the Prado; “there are the red legs.”
Each of the King’s guests was provided with two carriages, a court carriage and a state-department carriage. The every-day carriages, in which they drove about in the morning and did their shopping or sight-seeing, were handsome but simple landaus with the royal coat-of-arms on the panels. The main distinction was the red stockings and blue velvet breeches of the servants. Patsy always kept a sharp lookout for the red legs.