He listened and a plan formed within him: in case the strike turned out badly, why not utilize it by letting things run down until his neighbour was ruined, and then buy up his concession at a low price?
Il écoutait, et un plan germait en lui: dans le cas ou la greve tournerait mal, pourquoi ne pas l'utiliser, laisser les choses se gâter jusqu'a la ruine du voisin, puis lui racheter sa concession a bas prix?