Who would believe his story that the stock had been sent to him with a plausibly-worded letter to the effect that it represented a bonus on his own investment?
Now he came to think of it, calmly and reasonably, he would not believe it himself.

As usual, he had mislaid or destroyed the secretary's letter and there was only his word against the company's books to substantiate what would appear a most improbable if not impossible occurrence.
It was his conviction of his own good faith that made his present dilemma all the more cruel.

Had he really been a grafter, had he really taken the stock as a bribe he would not care so much, for then he would have foreseen and discounted the chances of exposure.

Yes, there was no doubt possible.

He was the victim of a conspiracy, there was an organized plot to ruin him, to get him out of the way.