He did this by assuming that Wayne had simply changed his mind or had at least utterly failed to convey his meaning in his written words.

He made this point of view very plausible by quoting the more laudatory of Wayne's sentences; and when Pete explained that the whole point of his report was in the sentence that had been omitted, Benson leaned back, chuckling, and biting off the end of his cigar.
"Oh, you college men!" he said.

"I'm afraid I'm not up to your subtleties.

When you said it was the richest vein and favorably situated, I supposed that was what you meant.

If you meant just the opposite, well, let it go.