I suppose that's the way the character was written, but he is no James Bond. He has a mean and selfish streak a mile wide.
FYI: Is available at KAT.
Reilly had to kill and steal a lot, that hardens one. But he was romantic, his Napoleana a good indication, and quite a dandy. So he certainly had a soft side.
shareA schemer by definition is a dick. Undercover cops,agents,etc if talented, all display a personality disorder. Our dramatic interest derives from seeing them deploy this talent in the service of altruistic aims. Their ease in betrayal of personal confidence makes them acquaintances to avoid.
Maybe you've never had the experience of witnessing a cop lie under oath but I can assure you it's quite common. They're all dicks.
Donnie Brasco, Wiseguy, James Bond; They're all skilled liars with low character traits operating outside the realm of conventional morality.