question:  What is the irony of Svan’s suspicion that his five fellow conspirators are cowards for not admitting who drew the double cross?
context: DOUBLECROSS by JAMES Mac CREIGH Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1944. "Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers ready to lift as soon as they come back." But after all, they're human beings, just like us—" "Not any more. Four or five generations ago they were. "Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. "They had to acclimate themselves to Venus's climate. He stared at the wooden shacks that were the outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present Venusian mist. The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned proton-rifles slung over their backs. A few natives were gazing wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of guards. They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we know Venus is habitable. And there's some sort of a paltry underground group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that is—right down into the mud. That's a basic law of—" The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! Instruments reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" "From their own mouths you have heard it. She looked around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly convinced by Svan. "Then we must act. We have agreed that, if the Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. Therefore, it must not return." "The Council did not know what we would face. The Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the Earth-ship has." There will be danger, I think...."
output:  It turns out that Svan was the one who drew the double cross slip, suggesting that all of his virulent suspicions were entirely his fault.
options:  It turns out that Svan planned to pull the double cross slip himself, so that he could blame his fellow conspirators and finally be rid of them.  It turns out that Svan was the one who drew the double cross slip, suggesting that all of his virulent suspicions were entirely his fault.  It turns out that Svan’s five friends made sure that Ingra, Svan’s love interest, didn’t pull the double cross slip. This causes Svan to pull it instead.  It turns out that Svan’s five friends conspired to make sure he drew the double cross slip.