If he was an innocent prospective purchaser, he might very well reply.
After the inspector has finished his work the cars are resealed with the state seal, and await orders of the purchaser.
None of these may be sold to any person who is unknown to the seller, unless introduced by a person known to the seller, and not until after an entry is made in a book kept for the purpose, stating, in the prescribed form, the date of sale, name and address of purchaser, the name and quantity of the article sold, and the purpose for which it is stated by the purchaser to be required.
Both Dawkins brothers were being offered excessive prices for the Lucky Pup land, from some supposedly unknown and secret purchaser.
The signature of the purchaser and introducer (if any) must be affixed to the entry.