Tracks in the Snow · Chapter
XVIII explained
The narrator, staying at an inn, receives a suspicious telegram about his wife but recalls her warning about a codeword.
What happens
The narrator, staying at an inn, receives a suspicious telegram about his wife but recalls her warning about a codeword. He visits the Trethewy home, where he learns that rumors about the murder have followed them. After Trethewy leaves for a milldam repair, the narrator stays overnight. He wakes to find the cottage on fire, rescues Ellen Trethewy, and both fall into the water after being struck by a disguised assailant. They escape through a millrace, and Trethewy returns to help them.
Themes in this chapter
The Past and Secrets
The Trethewy family's secret about the murder rumors is revealed, and the narrator's past actions in Florence haunt him.
Isolation and Companionship
The narrator feels isolated at the inn and seeks companionship with the Trethewys, risking danger to be near them.
Guilt and Innocence
Trethewy expresses guilt about his past behavior, while Ellen's innocence is contrasted with the suspicion surrounding her father.
Characters to notice
- James Callaghan
The narrator; receives a telegram about his wife, visits the Trethewys, rescues Ellen from the fire and water.
- William Vane-Cartwright
Mentioned as having suggested the Trethewy story; the narrator suspects him of involvement with the Mafia and of being the disguised attacker.
- Ellen Trethewy
The daughter; reveals she knows about the murder rumors, is rescued from the fire and water by the narrator.
- Mrs. Trethewy
The mother; distressed by the rumors, goes to bed early, is called to escape the fire.
- Reuben Trethewy
The father; leaves for a milldam repair, returns to help the narrator and Ellen after the fire.
Key passages
“My wife had telegraphed to my home saying she had gone for a day or two to the Hôtel de Brunswick, saying also, that I must pay no attention to any wire, purporting to be from her, which did not contain the word 'Fidele.'”
The narrator's wife sent a telegram instructing him to ignore any message from her that lacks the codeword 'Fidele.'
Establishes a secret communication method and foreshadows a deceptive telegram.
“I had not the faintest doubt that Vane-Cartwright’s suggestion about the Trethewy family, whatever its object might be, was a well-acted lie.”
The narrator is certain that Vane-Cartwright's story about the Trethewys is a deliberate falsehood.
Shows the narrator's distrust of Vane-Cartwright and his awareness of manipulation.
“I let go my hold on the bridge and threw my head back, and the stick crashed idly on the bricks of the margin.”
The narrator releases the bridge and leans back, causing the attacker's stick to strike the brick edge instead of him.
A critical moment of escape during the attack on the footbridge.