I had been with him more than a year when he surprised me.

Lady Cornbury was a slim, elegant lady. She and I did not have occasion to speak much, but she was always polite with me. I knew she gave His Lordship some anxiety. I’d find him standing by a table piled with her unpaid bills, muttering: “How are these to be settled?” For His Lordship was not as rich as people supposed. But when he and Her Ladyship were alone, you could hear them laughing together.

One day His Lordship told me that he and Her Ladyship would be supping alone with two friends who were just arrived from London. That evening, after I had shaved him carefully and laid out his clothes, he told me: “I shan’t need you now, Quash. I want you to go down to open the door for the guests, and wait at table.” Accordingly I opened the door to the English gentleman and his wife, and took them into the main reception room where Her Ladyship was waiting, before His Lordship was yet down. After a while, Her Ladyship informed me that there was to be another, secret guest, a great personage, and that I was to open the door and announce her. And when she told me who I must announce, I almost fainted. But I did as she said, and opened the door, and sure enough the great personage was there, so I turned and announced loudly: “Her Majesty, the Queen.”

And before my eyes, in walked Queen Anne. Except, as she passed me, I realized it was His Lordship.

He was wearing a dress that belonged to Her Ladyship. It was somewhat tight, but he carried it very well. And I must say he moved gracefully. He was wearing a woman’s wig. And after I had shaved him, he had so powdered, rouged, and painted his face that he really might have passed for a very handsome woman.

“By God, Corny!” cried the English gentleman. “You gave me a start. Your height gives you away, but you do look uncommonly like her. Astounding!”

“She is my cousin german, you know,” said His Lordship, very pleased with himself.

“Show us your leg,” demanded the English lady. And so His Lordship lifted his skirts and showed us his leg which, in silk stocking, looked very fine. And then he moved his leg about in a manner which almost made me blush. “Why, Corny,” she laughed, “you could have been a woman.”

“Sometimes,” said Her Ladyship quietly, “he is.”

Now His Lordship moved around the room, curtsied to his guests, and was applauded.