Since there had to be a death, he gave his consent that there should be one, but he would have preferred another.

Toward this one he was conscious of a feeling of disgust and repugnance.

He said to himself vaguely: "I concede a suicide.

But what is the good of a ridiculous and declamatory suicide?
Couldn't the fellow have killed himself at home?
Couldn't he, if his determination was irrevocable, have carried it out discreetly, with proper pride?
That is what a gentleman would have done in his position.

Then one might have pitied him, and respected his memory." He recalled word for word his conversation with Felicie in the bedroom an hour before the tragedy.