But I've been wondering, Thad, what if Nick could have a revelation about like the one that came to Jean Valjean at the time that splendid old priest, looking straight at the thief when the officers dragged him back with those silver candlesticks and spoons hidden under his dirty blouse, told them the men had committed no wrong, because he, the priest, had given the silver to him; which we know he _had_ done in his mind, after discovering how he had been robbed." Thad shook his head in a dogged fashion, as though by no means convinced.
"I reckon you'd be just the one to try that crazy scheme, Hugh, if ever the chance came to you; but mark me when I say it'd all be wasted on Nick." "But why should you be so sure of that ?" asked the other.

"The ex-convict was pictured as the lowest of human animals.

Hugo painted him as hating every living being, because of his own wrongs; and believing that there was no such thing as honor and justice among mankind.

It was done to make his change of heart seem all the more remarkable; to prove that a fellow can never sink so low but that there _may_ be a chance for him to climb up again, if only he makes up his mind." Thad laughed then, a little skeptically still, it must be confessed.
"Oh! that sounds all very fine, in a story, Hugh, but it'd never work out in real life.

According to my mind that Nick Lang will go along to the end of the book as a bad egg.