#count fosco

We first read Marian’s account of Count Fosco, where she waxes poetic about how striking his eyes are, how captivating his manners are, how he can command a room so effortlessly, and how he makes her flush whenever he treats her like and equal (when most men do not).

‘Impelled by honourable admiration—honourable to myself, honourable to you—I write, magnificent Marian, in the interests of your tranquillity, to say two consoling words: ‘Fear nothing! ‘Exercise your fine natural sense, and remain in retirement. Dear and admirable woman, invite no dangerous publicity. Resignation is sublime—adopt it. The modest repose of home is eternally fresh—enjoy it. The storms of life pass harmless over the valley of Seclusion—dwell, dear lady, in the valley. ‘Do this; and I authorise you to fear nothing. No new calamity shall lacerate your sensibilities—sensibilities precious to me as my own. You shall not be molested; the fair companion of your retreat shall not be pursued. She has found a new asylum, in your heart. Priceless asylum!—I envy her, and leave her there. ‘One last word of affectionate warning, of paternal caution—and I tear myself from the charm of addressing you; I close these fervent lines. ‘Advance no further than you have gone already; compromise no serious interests; threaten nobody. Do not, I implore you, force me into action—ME, the Man of Action—when it is the cherished object of my ambition to be passive, to restrict the vast reach of my energies and my combinations, for your sake. If you have rash friends, moderate their deplorable ardour. If Mr. Hartright returns to England, hold no communication with him. I walk on a path of my own; and Percival follows at my heels. On the day when Mr. Hartright crosses that path, he is a lost man.’ The only signature to these lines was the initial letter F, surrounded by a circle of intricate flourishes.

Okay. Fosco’s note in Marian’s diary is one of my favorite parts of this book. It’s so viscerally upsetting, it conveys a sense of violation better than a description of the same events would.

Love it when a fictional character has pets.

Favorite Quotes from 'The Woman in White' (Wilkie Collins)