He did not hold the key to the author's intention.
Drake's _vis-a-vis_ in the carriage saw him produce the book with considerable surprise, conscious of an incongruity between the reader and what he read.

His surprise changed to amusement as he noticed Drake's face betray his perplexity and observed him turn now and again to the title upon the cover as though doubtful whether he had not misread it.

He gave an audible chuckle.
Drake looked up and across the carriage at a man of about fifty years of age with a large red face and a close-cropped pointed beard.

The chuckle swelled to a laugh.
'You find that a hard nut to crack ?' Drake noticed a thickness in the articulation.
'I have been some years abroad.

I hardly catch its drift,' explained Drake, and then with an effort at praise: 'It seems a clever satire.' 'Satire!' guffawed the other.