Is There A van Rijn In Every Universe?

The Winter Of The World, III.

There is definitely a Nicholas van Rijn parallel character in The Long Way Home. What do we make of Ponsario en-Ostral in The Winter Of The World? 

Ponsario:

adopts the mask of an effete gourmand;

likes mulled wine and cigars;

carries the latter in a rosewood case;

is described as "ridiculously fat" (pp. 36-37);

is short-legged and balding;

dyes his hair and beard;

paints gold stars on his fingernails;

wears gold rings and an embroidered fur tunic;

is long-winded;

speaks self-deprecatingly about his "dotage" (p. 37);

lovingly lists sources of profit;

curries favour with the military governor...

Van Rijn would find a way to remain independent and to influence events without currying favour.

"And curry favor. Sidir's thought was not contemptuous. He no more despised a merchant for being a merchant than a dog for being a dog." (p. 40)

That sounds eminently contemptuous to me! Van Rijn makes others underestimate him but does not inspire contempt.