Count Fosco's delightful summer costume — staff artist John McLenan's headnote vignette (composite woodblock engraving) for the twenty-third weekly part of Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White: A Novel, published on 28 April 1860 in Harper's Weekly: A Journal of Civilization, "The Narrative of Eliza Michelson, Housekeeper at Blackwater Park," p. 269; p. 151 in the 1861 volume.

A Mystery: The Count attempts to outmanoeuvre Marian Halcombe with Frederick Fairlie

The Count’s first appearance really startled me. He was such an alarmingly large person that I quite trembled. I felt certain that he would shake the floor and knock down my art-treasures. He did neither the one nor the other. He was refreshingly dressed in summer costume — his manner was delightfully self-possessed and quiet — he had a charming smile. My first impression of him was highly favourable. It is not creditable to my penetration — as the sequel will show—to acknowledge this, but I am a naturally candid man, and I do acknowledge it notwithstanding.

“Allow me to present myself, Mr. Fairlie,” he said. “I come from Blackwater Park, and I have the honour and the happiness of being Madame Fosco’s husband. Let me take my first and last advantage of that circumstance by entreating you not to make a stranger of me.” ["The Second Epoch. The Narrative of Frederick Fairlie, Esq., of Limmeridge House," p. 269; p. 146 in the 1861 volume.]

The Count Addresses Himself to Mrs. Michelson, Who is Nursing Marian

“My dear Percival,” observed his lordship kindly, “Mrs. Michelson has duties. Pray recognise her admirable performance of them as sincerely as I do! How is the sufferer, Mrs. Michelson?”

“No better, my lord, I regret to say.”

“Sad — most sad!” remarked the Count. “You look fatigued, Mrs. Michelson. It is certainly time you and my wife had some help in nursing. I think I may be the means of offering you that help. Circumstances have happened which will oblige Madame Fosco to travel to London either to-morrow or the day after. She will go away in the morning and return at night, and she will bring back with her, to relieve you, a nurse of excellent conduct and capacity, who is now disengaged. The woman is known to my wife as a person to be trusted. Before she comes here say nothing about her, if you please, to the doctor, because he will look with an evil eye on any nurse of my providing. When she appears in this house she will speak for herself, and Mr. Dawson will be obliged to acknowledge that there is no excuse for not employing her. Lady Glyde will say the same. Pray present my best respects and sympathies to Lady Glyde.” [Part 23: "The Narrative of Eliza Michelson, Housekeeper at Blackwater Park."p. 253; pp. 150-151 in the 1861 volume.]

Related Material

• McLenan's regular, full-scale illustration for the twenty-third weekly number in serial: "I beg you will not disturb yourself — I beg you will not move." for 28 April 1860
• Fred Walker's poster: The Woman in White for the Olympic's October 1871 adaptation

Bibliography

Collins, Wilkie. The Woman in White: A Novel. New York: Harper & Bros., 1860.

Collins, Wilkie. The Woman in White: A Novel. Harper's Weekly: A Journal of Civilization. Illustrated by John McLenan. Vols. III-IV (16 November 1859 through 8 September 1860).

Collins, Wilkie. The Woman in White. Ed. Maria K. Bachman and Don Richard Cox. Illustrated by Sir John Gilbert and F. A. Fraser. Toronto: Broadview, 2006.

Peters, Catherine. "Chapter Twelve: The Woman in White (1859-1860)." The King of the Inventors: A Life of Wilkie Collins. London: Minerva Press, 1992. Pp. 205-225.

Vann, J. Don. "The Woman in White in All the Year Round, 26 November 1859 — 25 August 1860." Victorian Novels in Serial. New York: MLA, 1985. Pp. 44-46.

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Created 17 July 2024