Explore "The Root of all Evil" by J.S. Fletcher on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Up to that moment George Grice had fondly and firmly believed that he knew the secret of the house opposite -- he was so certain in his assumption, indeed, that he had taken no particular trouble to get at the real truth about it. For some time there had been a travelling draper, a Scotsman, coming into those parts, and doing a considerable amount of trade; this man had often remarked to the grocer that he had a rare good mind to set up a shop in Savilestowe, and make it the headquarters of a further development. He had not been seen in the neighbourhood since early spring, but George, who prided himself on his deductive qualities, was sure that he was behind all the preparations which were going on over the way, and said so, with a knowing chuckle, to Albert.
"They're close, is them Scotch fellers! " he remarked, as he and his son stood at their shop door one afternoon, watching certain material being carried into the opposite house. "I see how it is -- he's doing it all on the quiet -- made t'carpenter keep t'secret till all's ready for opening. Then he'll be appearin' on t'scene wi' a cargo o' goods. An' I shall hev no objection, Albert, mi lad -- owt 'at keeps trade i' t'village 'll bring trade to us, as long as it doesn't trespass on our line."