Add check if `str(handle)` correctly converted the object, and throw...

Add check if `str(handle)` correctly converted the object, and throw py::error_already_set if not (bis) (#2477)

* Add check if `str(handle)` correctly converted the object, and throw py::error_already_set if not

* Fix tests on Python 3

* Apply @rwgk's fixes to cherry-picked commits from #2392