This Immortal: feathers or lead?

Okay, so I just finished re-reading _This Immortal_ for the 20th-odd
time, and I feel like an idiot... 85% of the way through the book,
there's a scene where Moreby has Conrad and Hasan tied up in the
Valley of Sleep, and he's about to stick a knife in Conrad's belly.
The following exchange takes place:

Moreby: Has the fear driven you mad, Commissioner?

Conrad: Feathers or lead?

I don't understand the 'feathers or lead' reference. At all. Can
somebody enlighten me?

Thanks,
bob

bob sullivan opined

>Okay, so I just finished re-reading _This Immortal_ for the 20th-odd
>time, and I feel like an idiot... 85% of the way through the book,
>there's a scene where Moreby has Conrad and Hasan tied up in the
>Valley of Sleep, and he's about to stick a knife in Conrad's belly.
>The following exchange takes place:

> Moreby: Has the fear driven you mad, Commissioner?

> Conrad: Feathers or lead?

>I don't understand the 'feathers or lead' reference. At all. Can
>somebody enlighten me?

It is explained earlier in the book.

-ash
Cthulhu for President!
Why vote for a lesser evil?