"If we can find out what these mean," he said, "you may be better able, sir, to form a correct opinion." "And who is to do that ?" the banker asked.
"I can but try, sir," was the modest reply, "if you see no objection to my making the attempt." Sir Giles approved of the proposed experiment, silently and satirically, by a bend of his head.
Too discreet a man to make a suspiciously ready use of the information which he had privately obtained, Dennis took care that his first attempt should not be successful.

After modestly asking permission to try again, he ventured on the second occasion to arrive at a happy discovery.

Lifting the perforated paper, he placed it delicately over the page which contained the unintelligible writing.

Words and sentences now appeared (through the holes in the paper) in their right spelling and arrangement, and addressed Sir Giles in these terms: "I beg to thank you, sir, for complying with my conditions.

You have satisfied me of your good faith.