Feversham had read it without a word, and without a word had crumpled it up and tossed it into the fire.

But to-day Willoughby had told him that it had come from Castleton, and Castleton had been dining with a high official of the War Office.

The particular act of cowardice which had brought the three white feathers to Ramelton was easy to discern.

Almost the next day Feversham had told Durrance in the Row that he had resigned his commission, and Durrance knew that he had not resigned it when the telegram came.

That telegram could have brought only one piece of news, that Feversham's regiment was ordered on active service.