The Woman in White: The Third Epoch: Part 3, Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

Walter leaves Pesca’s house and plans to find Count Fosco as soon as possible. He knows that Count Fosco will try to flee the country if he thinks that The Brotherhood are after him, and Walter wants to make sure that he can find him that night. He returns to his house and writes a note to Pesca. This note tells Pesca that he, Walter, has been killed by Count Fosco and gives Pesca Count Fosco’s address. He also states that Count Fosco is a traitor to The Brotherhood. He puts the note in an envelope and writes on the envelope that Pesca is to open it at nine o’clock the next morning if he does not hear from Walter before then. Walter sends the note; he knows now that, even if Count Fosco kills him, Count Fosco himself will be killed by Pesca before he can escape.

Walter finds that Laura is asleep when he goes into her room to say goodbye to her. He does not wake her and, when he comes out onto the stairs, Marian is waiting for him with a note from Pesca; this is Pesca’s reply. Pesca states that he will do as Walter tells him, and Walter tells Marian that he is leaving in the cab which brought the note. Marian knows he is going to see Count Fosco and begs Walter to take her with him, even though “she is just a woman,” but Walter insists that she stay with Laura and rushes off to take the cab to the Count’s house.

Walter arrives and approaches Count Fosco’s house. As he walks towards it, he sees the foreign stranger from the opera slowly circling the Count’s house. The stranger sees Walter and continues on past Count Fosco’s house. Walter knocks on the door and tells the servant that he needs to see the Count “on important business.” The servant tries to send Walter away, but he persists and is eventually shown into the Count’s room.