"Indicted! For what?"
"For the way he handled Food Products—for fraud in selling the stock."
Dorothy closed her eyes for an instant. The dreaded words had come; the impact of them burned her. Food Products! And Slosson's bitter voice continued.
"Williams got me to sign the affidavits before I realized what was going on. If I'd dreamed that he was working with Macgowan, that the affidavits were to be used—"
"Stop, wait!" exclaimed Dorothy, her eyes terrified. "Tell me exactly what's the trouble, what he did that's wrong! I'll have to understand it all."
Slosson lowered his lids and looked down at his hands—perhaps to hide the swift gleam of triumph he could not keep from his eyes.
"As things stood, when your father was in charge, we were unable to market that big stock-issue which would have saved us. Reese took hold and showed us how to manage it. We made a list of assets that was—well, it was padded! We filed our sworn statements with the various state commissioners of securities, and got permission to sell the stock. Salvation was just in sight for the company when your wedding-day came—and you know what happened then. Reese threw us all out and took over the company."
Dorothy watched him with burning gaze. Across her face had slowly spread a mortal pallor.
"You don't mean that everything was prepared before-hand—even that meeting in father's library, that telegram—and what happened then?"
This was the moment of crisis, and Slosson met it firmly. He lifted his face, white with the lie that was on his lips. To Dorothy, it seemed the pallor of confession. He met her intent, flaming eyes, and nodded.