He hung up the receiver. It appeared that his call had no relation to the business in hand, for he turned to Williams at once. "Ah! You have the records?" He took the typed sheets and glanced through them rapidly. Then, with a nod, he returned them to Williams. "What other sums have you received lately from Macgowan's company?" he asked. "None," said Williams composedly. "As you see, this transaction is closed." "Then you and Slosson have no further business under way with Consolidated?" "None." "And these two checks dated the tenth are the final step in the transaction?" "Yes." Windsor nodded. "I see. This appears to be perfectly straight, Armstrong. Are there any further questions you'd like to ask?" Armstrong knew that he was checked. He was in a trap from which there was no way out; all the exits had been blocked by so cleverly woven a fabric of perjury that he could do nothing except struggle in futile passion. At this instant the door opened and Pete Slosson appeared on the threshold. CHAPTER VIII Slosson stared at the men facing him. Dorns he did not know; the sight of Windsor and Armstrong here together brought an angry glint into his eyes. One of those eyes was very discolored, his face was bruised and cut, and his right hand was half concealed in bandages. "Come in, Mr. Slosson," said Windsor genially, yet with a certain repressed eagerness in his voice which caused Armstrong to wonder. "You know Mr. Armstrong, I think; this is Mr. Robert Dorns. We came over here in order that you and Mr. Williams might answer a few questions in regard to these affidavits, if you don't mind. Nothing compulsory at all. Mr. Armstrong merely wishes to satisfy himself on certain points. You look as though you'd had a pretty bad accident." "I did." Slosson entered, dropped his hat on a chair, and himself into another. "I was robbed and dropped off my train--had a devil of a time. Well, what can I do for you?" He flung a glance at Dorns which was half defiant, half alarmed. The name must have startled him. Dorns, being the man he was, took instant advantage of what he read in Slosson's glance, and leaned forward. "I'd like to know," he said, hard of eye and voice, "just what took place at Armstrong's house when you called there--" "Not so fast, Mr. Dorns," cut in Windsor coolly. "Mr. Armstrong is doing the questioning here, if you please, and so am I. Do you care to answer that question Mr. Slosson? This is a conversation among ourselves, understand, and not a matter of record." "It's none of his business, then," shot out Slosson defiantly. Windsor smiled in his cordial manner, and glanced at Armstrong. "Do you care to ask the question now, or defer it?" he inquired. Armstrong suddenly perceived something tense in the manner of Windsor, and this query startled him into swift thought.