Sir Nugent knew that Sylvester did not like him, but it never crossed his mind that Sylvester, or anyone else, held him in contempt. If he could have been brought to believe it, he would have known that Sylvester was queer in his attic, and he would have been very much shocked.
In Georgette Heyer's novel "Sylvester," Sir Nugent is aware that Sylvester harbors negative feelings towards him, but he fails to realize the extent of that disdain. He is oblivious to the fact that Sylvester, or anyone around him, could actually look down on him with contempt. This ignorance about others' perceptions reveals a certain naivety in Sir Nugent's character.
If Sir Nugent had been made aware of the social implications of Sylvester's feelings, he might have had a more profound reaction. The narrative suggests that Sylvester’s peculiarities might surprise Nugent further, hinting at deeper themes of misjudgment and the complexity of social interactions in their world.
