But he was extremely shrewd--witness the way he saw through Mr.Knight--and in his own fashion very able--witness his success in life.
Moreover, since a man of his type has generally some object beyond the mere acquiring of money, particularly after it has been acquired, he had his, to rise high, for he was very ambitious.

His natural discernment set all his own failings before him in the clearest light; also their consequences.

He knew that he was vulgar and brutal, and that as a result all persons of real gentility looked down upon him, however much they might seem to cringe before his money and power, yes, though they chanced to be but labouring men.
For instance, his wife had done so, which was one of the reasons why he hated her, as indeed had all her distinguished relatives, after they came to know him, although he lent them money.

He knew that even if he became a peer, as he fully expected to do, it would be the same story; outward deference and lip service, but inward dislike and contempt.

In short, there were limits which he could never hope to pass, and therefore so far as he was concerned, his ambitious thirst must remain unslaked.
But he had a daughter whom Nature, perhaps because of her mother's blood, had set in quite a different class.