What was the specific reason Dev gave for not being able to recognize Sai Baba when he appeared as a Sanyasi?

After learning the truth, Damodar Dev identified a specific reason for his failure to recognize Sai Baba. Chapter 40 reveals his internal monologue where he realizes his delusion stemmed from a prior encounter. The same Sanyasi had visited him before the Udyapan invitation was even sent to Shirdi, for the purpose of collecting funds for cow protection. Because of this earlier, unrelated meeting, Dev perceived the Sanyasi's return as merely a follow-up for a meal, not as the divine arrival of Baba. Dev lamented this confusion, stating that the Sanyasi's initial visit for his own work created a delusion, and he also admitted he forgot Baba's specific words about bringing two others, which would have been a clue.