The Woman in White

Laura and Sir Percival arrive at Blackwater late on June 12. By June 15, Marian has concluded that Laura seems different—older and more reserved. She also remains silent about her marriage, though she asks Marian if she has heard from Walter recently (she has not). Nevertheless, Laura is happy to be reunited with Marian. Marian hopes that her opinion of Sir Percival will change for the better, but he has been preoccupied with household nuisances and therefore seems irritable and controlling.

Marian confirms Laura’s earlier impression that Madame Fosco’s character has altered. She had been an independent woman who was vain about her appearance. She has become submissive to the count and will not venture an opinion without his consent. Marian attributes these changes to Count Fosco’s force of personality, noting that Fosco keeps many tame animals, including white mice and birds. He trains them to do tricks and pets them. Somewhat against her will, Marian enjoys Fosco’s attention because he treats her as an intellectual equal. She notices that Fosco seems capable of flattering and manipulating anyone—even Sir Percival—but no matter how she tries to guard herself, his charm is impossible to resist. Marian is intensely curious about Fosco’s history and connection to Percival but discovers little beyond the fact that he has not been in Italy for many years (he and his wife met Sir Percival and Laura in Vienna).

The next day, Mr. Merriman, Sir Percival’s lawyer, visits. Marian thinks that something serious must have happened for a lawyer to arrive unannounced.

That same afternoon, Marian overhears Mr. Merriman talking with Sir Percival in the study. Merriman says that Laura must sign a contract in front of witnesses. Failing that, Sir Percival may be able to delay repaying his bills for three months.

Marian goes to Laura, but Laura already knows about her Sir Percival’s debts and says she will not sign anything without reading it first. Marian tells Laura that she thinks Count Fosco also knows about Sir Percival’s financial affairs. Laura replies that she does not trust Count Fosco.

The next morning, Sir Percival asks to speak on business matters with Count Fosco, Madame Fosco, and Laura. However, they decide to postpone the discussion, and Sir Percival and the Foscos instead join Marian and Laura on their walk, which takes them to the boathouse. Sir Percival says that he finds the lake ugly and that it would be an ideal place for a murder. Count Fosco disagrees, pointing out the shallowness of the water and the mud, which would likely preserve footprints: Fosco claims that intelligent criminals are never caught, while Sir Percival mocks Laura for believing that criminals inevitably reveal themselves. As the conversation continues, Fosco tells the group that he has traveled the world and believes that morality is culturally relative.

As they prepare to leave, Fosco gathers his white mice, which he has brought with them and let run loose in the boathouse. While stooping to retrieve one from under a seat, Fosco finds a patch of dried blood. Marian explains that it must be from the dog she found dying on that spot. She tells the story of her discovery, including the housekeeper’s belief that it was Mrs. Catherick’s dog. Sir Percival urgently questions Marian on this point, but Count Fosco persuades Sir Percival to hurry back to the house and ask the housekeeper instead. Count Fosco remains behind, questioning Marian himself.

Now near the house, the group sees a horse prepared for a journey. Marian believes Sir Percival plans to visit Mrs. Catherick. When they go into the house, Sir Percival says that he has business elsewhere but wants Count Fosco and Madame Fosco to serve as witnesses for Laura’s signature before he leaves. Marian remains outside as the others go into the library.

Sir Percival soon exits the library explaining that he needs Marian’s assistance. Fosco objects to his wife witnessing the signature because she is, legally speaking, the same person as Fosco himself. At the count’s signal, Madame Fosco leaves the room.

Sir Percival places a document in front of Laura that is folded so the text is concealed. Laura repeatedly asks her husband what it is, but Sir Percival insists that she sign immediately, as his carriage is waiting, and says that women can’t understand business anyway. Laura appeals to Marian, who refuses to witness the signature under these circumstances, prompting further argument from Sir Percival. Eventually, Sir Percival says Laura has no right to “scruples” given that she revealed her true character by marrying him. Now angry herself, Laura is about to leave the room when Fosco chastises Sir Percival and arranges to postpone the question of the signature until the following day. Sir Percival then leaves the house.

In private, Laura and Marian agree that Marian should write to Mr. Kyrle, their lawyer. To receive an answer before another confrontation with Sir Percival about the signature, the reply will need to be dispatched with a messenger rather than through the ordinary post. Laura should arrange to be away from the house the following morning while they wait for a response.

Marian places the letter in the house’s postbag. As she does, Madame Fosco calls Marian over to her, and they walk outside together. Madam Fosco says that she strongly disapproves of Sir Percival’s behavior but then suddenly walks away. When Marian goes back into the house, Count Fosco is putting a letter in the postbag. She checks her own letter and finds that the seal has become unstuck.

That evening, Marian and Laura walk toward the lake. As they settle in the boathouse, Laura finally confides in Marian, revealing that Sir Percival shows little affection toward her. She tells the story of an occasion in Rome when they visited a tomb built by a mourning husband. Laura asked if Sir Percival would build her such a grand tomb; he remarked that any tomb would be funded by her money. She also tells Marian about a woman who asked Laura about her interest in art and recommended a drawing master: Walter Hartright. Laura’s reaction revealed her feelings for Walter to Sir Percival.

Marian regrets the part she played in sending Walter away and begins crying. As they prepare to return to the house, they see someone—perhaps a woman—in the gloom. Then, as they walk back, they hear sounds behind them. Once at the house, Marian tries to discover if anyone could have followed them, quickly ruling out Count and Madame Fosco. Before going to bed, she questions a servant and finds that all the staff are accounted for as well.

The next morning, Laura goes out looking for a brooch she lost during her walk with Marian. Marian herself goes to intercept the expected messenger, but before she leaves, Marian notes where Count and Madame Fosco are.

Marian receives Mr. Kyrle’s reply as planned and reads it immediately. Mr. Kyrle discourages Laura from signing the document, which he believes probably draws on Laura’s inheritance to repay Sir Percival’s debts. As Marian dismisses the messenger, Fosco appears, explaining that he wanted to join Marian on her walk. They return to the house, where they find Sir Percival’s cart in the drive and Sir Percival in the hall. He asks where Laura is, reminding Marian of the postponed document signing. However, Fosco and Sir Percival then confer privately for a moment, at which point Fosco tells Marian that Laura’s signature is not yet necessary.

Exhausted by the strain of these events, Marian falls asleep and dreams about Walter. First, she sees him at a jungle temple; a white vapor that she interprets as “pestilence” has overcome the men around him. Next, she sees him threatened by the jungle’s Indigenous inhabitants. Then she sees him in a shipwreck. After each calamity, Marian pleads with Walter to return, while Walter tells her that he has been spared because he has a duty to fulfill. The last vision shows him at the side of a tomb from which a veiled woman rises.

Laura wakes Marian and tells her that while she was searching for her brooch in the boathouse, she met Anne Catherick. Anne told Laura that she knew her mother and is at Blackwater to make up for failing to prevent Laura’s marriage. She also told Laura of a weapon she could use against her husband—a secret that Anne learned of from her mother. Anne heard something and ran away before telling Laura more, but she told Laura she would meet her at the boathouse the next day.

That evening, Sir Percival shows uncharacteristic kindness toward Laura. Coupled with the memory of her dream, this gives Marian a sense of foreboding.

Marian is worried about Sir Percival or Fosco interfering with the planned meeting with Anne Catherick, but Sir Percival unexpectedly leaves the house the next morning without saying where he is going. Around lunch, Laura sets out to keep her meeting with Anne. Soon afterward, Marian also heads toward the boathouse but does not find Laura or Anne (though she does hear footsteps). Back at the house, she learns from the housekeeper that Sir Percival and Laura have also returned, the latter very upset because Sir Percival had dismissed Fanny, Laura’s maid.

Marian goes to Laura’s room but is unable to go inside; a servant named Margaret Poacher is stationed there and bars her on Sir Percival’s orders. Marian goes to confront Sir Percival and tells him that it is illegal to imprison Laura. They argue, and Madame Fosco—at a look from her husband—announces that she will not stay to see women treated so badly. Sir Percival angrily agrees to unlock Laura’s door. Marian immediately goes to Laura and explains the argument. Laura is accusing Fosco of spying when Madame Fosco knocks on the door. She looks angry, having evidently overheard the conversation, but returns a handkerchief and leaves.

Laura then explains that Anne failed to show up to their appointment. However, a note buried in the sand explained that her prior conversation with Laura had been overheard by a man matching Count Fosco’s description; she and Laura would need to find another way of communicating. Sir Percival appeared while Laura was reading this message and dragged her back to the house, seizing the letter for himself. Laura has bruises on her arms, which Marian asks to see so she can bear witness in the future.

Marian reassures Laura that she will write to Mr. Kyrle and Mr. Fairlie. Fanny—whom Sir Percival dismissed for having witnessed the altercation with Laura—has taken lodging in the village; Marian plans to give her the letters so that they aren’t intercepted in the house postbag. Before she leaves, Marian tells Laura to keep her door locked and only open it to her.

Marian returns to her room but, agitated by a fear that someone has been tampering with her writing supplies, immediately goes downstairs, where she encounters Madame Fosco. Marian begs her not to repeat Laura’s accusations about Fosco spying on her to her husband, but Fosco himself approaches while she is speaking. Going once more to her room, Marian writes to Mr. Kyrle and Mr. Fairlie for help. She then shows these letters to Laura, who tells her she believes Madame Fosco has been lurking outside her door.

Before making the trip to the village, Marian tries to ascertain where everyone in the house is so as not to be observed. She runs into Madame Fosco on her way out and pretends to return indoors to avoid being followed. She then heads to the inn where Fanny is staying and gives her the letters. When Marian returns to the house, Laura informs her that Sir Percival has been badgering her about where Anne Catherick is.

While Laura remains locked in her room, the others have dinner. Count Fosco and Sir Percival are generally quiet, though Count Fosco is as attentive to Marian herself as ever. The women get up to leave the table, and Count Fosco tries to follow. However, Sir Percival asks him to remain so the two can talk. Count Fosco refuses. Rather than sit and drink tea, however, Count Fosco fetches the postbag and asks Marian if she has any letters to send, which she does not. Marian attempts to leave the room with Madame Fosco, suspecting she intends to spy on Laura, but Count Fosco waylays her with a discussion of music.

When Marian finally reaches Laura’s room, Laura reports nothing untoward. After some time spent journaling, Marian returns to the library, she finds that Madame Fosco is out of breath. They discuss exercise, and Madame Fosco’s remarks hint that she saw Marian leave with the letters earlier that afternoon. Excusing herself, Marian goes to bed.

After struggling to write, Marian opens her bedroom window. She smells tobacco and then sees two red lights—cigarettes—moving toward each other across the lawn. She hears Count Fosco tell Sir Percival that he does not want to speak further until Marian has put out her light; he warns Sir Percival that he is on the edge of a “precipice” and criticizes the way he has managed things with “the women.” After Fosco announces his plan to check the downstairs rooms to ensure they are not overheard, the two men move away.

Based on their conversation, Marian anticipates that Count Fosco and Sir Percival will hold their conversation on the veranda outside the library. She extinguishes her candle, puts on a dark cloak, climbs out her window, and makes her way along the roof of the veranda so that she can listen to the conversation below.

Count Fosco is deflecting Sir Percival’s criticisms of his behavior toward him, reminding him of their situation: Both are deep in debt, and Sir Percival’s treatment of Laura and Marian has done nothing to aid the men in securing Laura’s money. He tells Sir Percival that Marian has written to her lawyer. Count Fosco has intercepted the letter.

Count Fosco asks Sir Percival about Laura’s inheritance from Mr. Fairlie. This cannot be depended upon, Fosco notes, because Fairlie may live a long time and might yet marry. Count Fosco then presses Sir Percival about what would happen if Laura died. Sir Percival tells him about the arrangement: Sir Percival would receive £20,000, while Madame Fosco would receive £10,000. It has begun to rain, and Marian is soaked. Passing to Sir Percival’s “second difficulty,” Count Fosco asks about Anne. Sir Percival refuses to divulge the nature of what she knows but says that, if the secret were discovered, it would be a more serious problem than his current debts. Sir Percival worries that Anne has revealed something to Laura, who he says has no interest in preserving her reputation via his own; rather, she is in love with another man—Walter. Count Fosco assures him that they will find Anne and, should he return, Walter.

Fosco asks Sir Percival to describe Anne. When Sir Percival says she resembles Laura, Count Fosco becomes audibly excited and tells Sir Percival he can solve both their problems. The two men go inside, where Marian can no longer hear them, so she returns to her room.

Marian does not sleep, spending the next several hours recording what she has heard. By the morning, she has begun to fall ill and struggles not to lose her place while writing. An appended note remarks that the diary becomes incoherent from this point forward. A written by Count Fosco follows. He writes that Marian is gravely ill. Reading her diary, however, has affirmed his high opinion of Marian, whose bravery and insight he lavishly praises. He feels that they are kindred spirits and expresses his condolences that she will not be able to stop him from carrying out his plans.

A letter written by Mr. Fairlie opens with a complaint that he is in no fit state to have demands placed upon him—for example, the writing of this testimony, which he is writing at Walter’s request. However, with the aid of his servant, he recalls a June or July interview with Fanny, Laura’s maid.

Fanny delivers Marian’s letter to him and describes how she left Blackwater. Fanny further explains that Madame Fosco visited her in the village and had tea with her, after which Fanny dozed off (the implication, which Mr. Fairlie does not perceive, being that Madame Fosco drugged Fanny and read her letters).

Mr. Fairlie takes Marian’s letter but doesn’t read it immediately. When he does, he resents the imposition. He feels that Laura and her husband’s problems are not his to solve and objects to the idea of offering Laura shelter at Limmeridge. Anticipating trouble if he refuses outright, however, he asks Marian to come to Limmeridge to talk about the problem.

Soon afterward, Mr. Fairlie receives a letter from Mr. Kyrle saying that he has received an envelope from Marian that contains only a blank sheet of paper. Marian herself has not responded to Mr. Kyrle’s inquiries, which alarms him further. Mr. Fairlie writes back telling Mr. Kyrle not to bother him again.

A few days later, Count Fosco pays Mr. Fairlie a visit bearing news of Marian’s illness. Fosco explains that he has come in her place to report that Sir Percival and Laura have fallen out. He advises a separation and asks if Laura can stay with Mr. Fairlie at Limmeridge. Frustrated with Fosco’s insistence, Mr. Fairlie writes a letter inviting Laura to Limmeridge, secretly trusting that she will not accept if doing so means leaving Marian to her sickbed.

Mr. Fairlie concludes his account by reiterating that he is entirely blameless and that recent events have “shattered” his health.