Ben Franklin question that's driving me insane!?

Question

Keimer, taking old Bradford, whom he had never seen before, to be one of the town's people that had a good will for him, enter'd into a conversation on his present undertaking and projects; while Bradford, not discovering [revealing] that he was the other printer's father, on Keimer's saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the business into his own hands, drew him on by artful questions, and starting little doubts, to explain all his views, what interests he reli'd on, and in what manner he intended to proceed. I, who stood by and heard all, saw immediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister, and the other a mere novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surpris'd when I told him who the old man was.

What does he mean by "drew him on by artful question" and who does he refer to as "crafty old sophister?"

Answer 1

"drew him on by artful question" means that he asked questions in such a way as to not make him suspicious. That he was trying to get information from him but made it seem as though he was simply curious and interested in the subject.

The "crafty old sophister?" refers to Bradford, the one asking all of the questions and hiding his relation to the printer.

Answer 2

Okay, so Keimer is the "novice" here and Bradford is the "crafty old sophister." Apparently, Bradford--once he realizes that Keimer doesn't know who he is--uses subtle questions ("drew him on by artful question") to get Keimer to reveal the specifics of how he runs his business and how he thinks he's going to beat out the competing printer (who happens to be Bradford's son). Now Bradford can take this information back to his son so that his son can succeed in the printing business and oust Keimer.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Bradford led Keimer on to reveal information by carefully worded questions, and thus, Bradford was a crafty old sophister (see the root of sophisticated), while Keimer was a mere novice (the opposite of sophisticated).

Answer 4

NOT now kid...my head hurts!........

....oh alright, It means he baited him for more information by smooth talking

......and it means one guy was smart and the other guy wasn't.....