# VI explained — Tracks in the Snow

> Chapter companion for Tracks in the Snow by Godfrey R. Benson.

## What happens

The narrator recounts Trethewy's confession of harboring murderous intent towards Peters, though he claims he never acted on it. The narrator struggles to interpret the sincerity of Trethewy's religious and psychological turmoil. Meanwhile, two cryptic letters from Charles Bryanston arrive for Peters, the second revealing that Longhurst survived a shipwreck.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Innocence

Trethewy's confession of intent but denial of action raises questions about moral versus legal guilt.

### The Past and Secrets

Trethewy's hidden thoughts and the cryptic letters from Bryanston reveal buried truths.

### Memory and Perception

The narrator struggles to interpret Trethewy's account, questioning its sincerity and accuracy.

## Character check-ins

### Reuben Trethewy

Confesses to having desired Peters' death and struggled with religious guilt, but maintains his innocence of the actual murder.

### James Callaghan

Reported Trethewy's threatening behavior towards Peters to the police.

### Eustace Peters

The murdered man; Trethewy's altercations with him are recounted.

### William Vane-Cartwright

Opened a letter addressed to Peters and passed it to the narrator; later left before the second letter arrived.

### Charles Bryanston

Sent two letters to Peters from Baghdad, the second revealing that Longhurst survived.

### Walter Longhurst

Mentioned in Bryanston's letter as having sailed on the Eleanor and survived.

## Key lines

> Self-abasement and self-righteousness, the genuine stuff of Puritan enthusiasm, the adulterated stuff of morbid religiousness, sheer cant, manly straightforwardness, pleasure in the opportunity of preaching and that to the parson⁠—all these things seemed blended together in Trethewy's talk.

Trethewy's speech mixed genuine religious fervor with hypocrisy and a love of preaching, making it hard to discern his true character.

_The narrator reflects on the complexity of Trethewy's confession._

> I am sorry I can tell you nothing about it.⁠— Yours , C. B.

Bryanston's first letter to Peters was deliberately vague, offering no information.

_The first of two letters from Charles Bryanston._

> Longhurst sailed in the Eleanor and she did not go down. To the best of my belief she still sails the seas. I never liked C. ⁠— Yours ever , Charles Bryanston.

Bryanston's second letter reveals that Longhurst survived the voyage of the Eleanor, and expresses dislike for someone identified only as 'C.'

_The second letter provides key information about Longhurst's fate._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tracks_in_the_snow_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tracks_in_the_snow_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tracks_in_the_snow_se/chapters