"I mean," said I, "that I can understand how men have committed suicide because of just such things.
My wonder is that Anson, poor devil! did not do it." I knew I was talking foolishly.
"He hadn't the courage, my dear sir.

He was gentlemanly enough to die, but not to be heroic to that extent.

For it does need a strong dash of heroism to take one's own life.

As I conceive it, suicide would have been the best thing for him when he sinned against the code.

The world would have pitied him then, would have said, He spared us the trial of punishing him.