Questions for The Magus

Okay, then. Here are my questions regarding The Magus.

1. When did Conchis' scheme really begin?

2. Fowles often mentions the color white. Is he using that color as the color of purity, or of death, or of something else entirely? (Or am I just totally nuts?)

3. The last little quote at the end of The Magus goes like this: cras amet qui numquam amavit / quique amavit cras amet (reasonably literal translation with a comma for clarity: tomorrow let him love who has never loved / and let him who has loved, tomorrow love). How does this relate to the rest of the book--is it a form of death?

4. Why the little episode of hypnosis? Was it the power of suggestion or did Conchis actually hypnotize Nicholas (and does that even matter)?

5. Why does Alison really agree to help Conchis (other than her explanation, which honestly sounds a little too pat to be true)? It just seems to me that in the beginning she was so much like Nicholas as far as proclivities go that it would be really hard to get her to "side" with Conchis. Possibly I missed something.