The Woman in White: The Third Epoch: Part 4, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Count Fosco begins his narrative by saying that he came to England in 1850 on political business but that he cannot tell Walter what this business was. He planned to stay at Blackwater with Madame Fosco, Sir Percival Glyde, and Sir Percival’s new wife, Laura. Both Count Fosco and Sir Percival were in desperate need of money and that “any man who is not in need of money must be either very sensible or very rich.” He says that they were greeted at Blackwater by Marian, and that he fell in love with her instantly, as though he was a young man again.

Count Fosco then returns to the subject of money. He and Sir Percival were desperate to get at Laura’s fortune but could not do so until her death. Count Fosco also knew that Sir Percival was in a panic about the fact that Anne Catherick was free and had been talking to Laura. Count Fosco did not know the secret which Sir Percival feared but was worried that if Sir Percival was ruined, he would not get access to the ten thousand pounds that Madame Fosco would receive if Laura died. So, Count Fosco began to track down Anne Catherick and accidentally met with Mrs. Clements at the boat house.

Mrs. Clements trusted Count Fosco and took him to see Anne Catherick, who was dying of heart disease. Count Fosco was “electrified” by the similarity between Anne Catherick and Laura and formed a plan to switch their identities. He gave Anne a “stimulant” which would give her the energy to travel to London.

Count Fosco explains that he is an expert chemist and that he has used this skill several times throughout the conspiracy. He gave medicine to Anne to strengthen her and tried his best to save Marian’s life when the doctor, Mr. Dawson, prescribed the wrong drugs. He also admits that Madame Fosco drugged Fanny, Laura’s maid, when she tried to carry Marian’s letters to London and that he kept Laura anesthetized in London before taking her to the asylum.

He told Mrs. Clements to take Anne to London and sent Madame Fosco to follow them there, under the pretense of going to fetch a nurse for Marian. This nurse was their accomplice, Mrs. Rubelle. He then went to see Mr. Fairlie and asked him to write to Marian, inviting her to Limmeridge. He knew that Laura would set out for London if she thought she was following Marian.

When he returned to Blackwater, Count Fosco heard from Mr. Dawson that Marian was well enough to be left with a nurse. The Count then dismissed the doctor to get him out of the way and encouraged Sir Percival to get rid of all the servants, except for Mrs. Michelson and Margaret Poacher. With the help of Madame Fosco, Sir Percival and Count Fosco moved Marian into a separate wing of the house where she would be hidden from Laura. Count Fosco then gave Sir Percival the letter from Mr. Fairlie and, on the 24th of July, he and Madame Fosco set out for London to kidnap Anne Catherick.

While Madame Fosco took Mrs. Clements away in a cab—allegedly to see Laura—Count Fosco sent Anne a note which said that Walter Hartright was waiting outside in a carriage to take her to see Laura. Anne left the house and got into this cab. When she was shown into Count Fosco’s house—the servants were told that this was Laura—she saw Madame Fosco and became wild with fright. She collapsed on the floor and the doctor was sent for. Count Fosco confesses that he was terrified that Anne would die before Laura had been taken to London and the next day, on the 25th, this fear came true, and Anne passed away.

On the 26th, Count Fosco received a letter from Sir Percival which said that Laura was on her way to London. Count Fosco met her at the station and took Anne Catherick’s clothes with him for Laura to put on. He sedated her with a bottle of smelling salts and, the next day—on the 27th—took her to the asylum and had her committed under the name of Anne Catherick. He then returned to Limmeridge for Laura’s funeral.

Count Fosco admits that his weakness in his plan came from his love of Marian. His decision to let her go has led Walter Hartright to also cause Sir Percival’s death. He concludes his letter by answering three questions which he suspects Walter might like to ask. Firstly, he says that Madame Fosco’s devotion to him is due to the fact that she is his wife and that wives must obey their husbands. Secondly, he tells Walter that if Anne Catherick had not died of natural causes then he would have killed her. And thirdly, he says that he does not feel guilty for his part in things, as he could have killed Laura as well but refrained from doing so. With that, Count Fosco ends his manuscript.