while sergeant dankwaerts , in tones which to a law-breaker would have sounded menacingly level , and consulting from time to time a small black note-book , recited a story studded with 'on the i6th instant 's ' and 'it came to our knowledge 's ' , bond made an unconcealed examination of mr saye which appeared to perturb mr saye no more than the undertones of sergeant dankwaerts 's recitation .