The fellow asking about the price clearly didn't have the means to take over the shop. The shopkeeper had run his business for years, and his eyes were sharp; he was a good judge of character. He could tell at a glance who had the money and who was all talk.
As for the man asking about the price, he might as well have written "middleman looking to make a cut" across his face. The shopkeeper was already in a bad mood, so he naturally wasn't inclined to be friendly.
The man didn't take offense. Grinning, he said, "Boss, never mind whether I'm just brokering a deal. The important thing is, how much do you want for it? Deals are negotiated. Even if I am just a middleman, you'll only sell if I can get you a price you're happy with. If the price isn't right, the shop is still yours. It's not like I can snatch it from you, is it? At the end of the day, it's all about the price, isn't it? You're selling either way. Don't underestimate us middlemen. We might even get you more than you were hoping for."
The shopkeeper had been fuming, but after hearing the man explain himself, he thought there was some sense to it. What he cared about was how much money he'd end up with. What did it matter if the buyer was a middleman? As long as he got the price he wanted, he could sell the shop and retire with the money. Wasn't that a fine deal?
The man read the shopkeeper's expression and saw that he was tempted. He chuckled. "Boss, if you'd rather not discuss it here, let's step aside and talk."
But the shopkeeper was shrewd and refused to negotiate with him in private.