And again, if Mrs. Belassis could but introduce into that house some creature of her own, great things might be accomplished. The library books might be gradually and systematically examined; and if the underling failed in the quest, surely she could admit her employer at some unlikely hour, and with time and patience Mrs. Belassis felt perfectly certain that she should be able to find Philip Debenham’s carefully hidden will. But who was to be the instrument of this promising plot? A little more consideration, and that point, too, was settled. When Mrs. Belassis reached her own house, she said to the footman who answered her summons: ‘Send Betsy Long up to my room.’ Her face and voice were so severe, that the man informed the under-housemaid that ‘she was going to catch it now, and serve her right too,’ by which it might be argued that the young woman was not a special favourite of his. Betsy Long was a good-looking, clever girl, and Mrs. Belassis had already made use of her as a sort of spy upon the other servants. It was her pride and boast, that she always knew exactly what went on in her kitchen and servants’-hall, and naturally this knowledge could only be obtained through one of the servants themselves. The honourable position of informer-general had been held for nearly two years by Betsy Long, who stood high in her mistress’s favour, and proportionately low in that of her fellow-servants. Betsy Long could lie with an assumption of simple veracity that was touching to witness, and she knew when to speak and when to hold her peace; and she had always been faithful, so far, to her mistress, whom she feared whilst she fawned upon her. So Betsy Long was selected by Mrs. Belassis as her chosen instrument. Betsy came up in fear and trembling, not knowing what might be in store for her. She was, however, somewhat reassured by the look and manner of her mistress; and the two entered into a long and earnest conference, the result of which will be seen later. The immediate result was, that the girl went sobbing down to the lower regions, with the news that Mrs. Belassis had turned her off with a week’s notice, and she didn’t know what would become of her. The other servants could hardly be said to be sympathetic, and told her plainly that it served her right. Betsy cried loudly in public, but never in private; and in spite of her mistress’s supposed displeasure, she and Mrs. Belassis held, in strict privacy, more than one long conference together.