Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/246

 relations to society save those which are hostile, with no personal affections; at the same time, vaguely aware of certain faculties in himself for which life affords no scope and encouraged in various kinds of conceit by the crass stupidity of all with whom he associates. It is suggested to him all at once that there is a very easy way of improving his circumstances, and that by exercise of a certain craft with which he is perfectly familiar;—only, the method happens to be criminal. “Men who do this kind of thing are constantly being caught and severely punished. Yes; men of a certain kind; not Robert Hewett. Robert Hewett is altogether an exceptional being; he is head and shoulders above the men with whom he mixes; he is clever, he is remarkably good-looking. If any one in this world, of a truth Robert Hewett may reckon on impunity when he sets his wits against the law Why, his arrest and punishment is an altogether inconceivable thing; he never in his life had a charge brought against him.”