He held it out to Ethne.
"I have come to give you this." Ethne did not take it.

In fact, she positively shrank from it.
"Why ?" she asked unsteadily.
"Three white feathers, three separate accusations of cowardice, were sent to Feversham by three separate men.

This is actually one of those feathers which were forwarded from his lodgings to Ramelton five years ago.

I am one of the three men who sent them.

I have come to tell you that I withdraw my accusation.