He was remembering the value of the report as explained by Mr.Bayard.

"Let me see it, please." Mr.Sands took from his pocket two strips of paper.

Richard looked at one and then the other; they were white as snow, guiltless of mark or sign of ink.
"There's nothing here," said Richard, the thing beginning to be mysterious.
For a moment Richard feared that Mr.Sands might be again immersed in his cups.

That follower of Franklin reassured him.
"The report is there all right," he observed, "only we can't read it out here in the light.

Now if we could find a dark room, one with a window, I'd show you what I mean." Richard returned to Mr.Gwynn's.