So how does he pay rent if he's not selling the product his business is supposed to sell?

He's in the business to sell silver and now he refuses to sell it? Why does he bother going to work if he's not going to do his job?

This really isn't adding up. It's not like he can't get more silver to sell. There is nearly unlimited silver available to him. He knows it, you know it and we know it. What is the end game here?