"So I presume." Williams was imperturbable. "As you may imagine, it was not given of my own choice, but from necessity." "Every statement in this affidavit," went on Armstrong coolly, "is false--" "One moment, if you please," intervened Williams, and looked up at Windsor. "May I inquire whether this conversation is to be made a matter of record? In such event, I should like to have my lawyer present." Windsor nodded. "If you like, of course. But this is entirely informal and between ourselves. You are compelled to answer nothing." "Thank you. In that case, Mr. Armstrong, proceed. I have nothing to conceal." Armstrong faced defeat, and knew it. "The statements in this affidavit will have to be backed up on the stand," he continued. "You realize that?" "Certainly." "You say that I corresponded with you in regard to the Deming Company's affairs, in June of last year, urging you to put upon the market a stock issue which I might handle. What proof have you of such a statement? Are you able to produce the correspondence?" "As you are aware," and Williams smiled slightly, "you instructed me to destroy the two letters which I had from you. I so did. Mr. Slosson read them, however, and will be able to reproduce their gist." Armstrong compressed his lips. At every step, the trap was closing more firmly. "Then," he went on slowly, "you say that complete instructions regarding this stock issue were given you verbally, by my representative Wren, in Evansville on the tenth of July last--" "Mr. Slosson was a witness to the conversation," struck in Williams smoothly. "--and that he advised you," pursued Armstrong, "to falsify the company's financial statement in such a manner that blue sky licenses might be obtained." "Do you deny that Wren did so?" "Of course," said Armstrong impatiently. "He was in Evansville then, and I believe that he interviewed you, gaining certain information about the standing of the company. I understood that it was in bad shape, due to incompetent directors, and was making plans to the end of helping Mr. Deming to retrieve the lost ground--but Wren certainly never made such proposals as you here assert." Windsor was intent, Dorns was frowning; Ried Williams shrugged and spoke with an assumed helplessness that was very well done. "Of course, Armstrong, passing the lie does no good here and now." Armstrong looked at him. "Williams, how long has Slosson been in New York?" This question brought a narrowing of the other man's lids. "A week, or a little over." "Did you or Macgowan send him to my house?" To all three of his listeners, this question brought startled surprise, for Dorns knew nothing of Armstrong's recent domestic trouble. For an instant Williams was so badly shaken that Armstrong thought the victory won. "Your house?" repeated Williams, bewildered and wildly alarmed. "What the devil was he doing there?"