THE CAMPFIRE · CLASSIC · 1914
The Open Window
A nervous visitor waits in a country house. The niece explains why the French window is always left open. Three years ago today, three men walked out of it and never came back.
A campfire telling of "The Open Window" by Saki (1914) Read the original free ↗
The CampfireThe openingFree
Framton Nuttel was a nervous man. A very nervous man. His doctor had sent him to the countryside for a rest cure. Peace and quiet. Fresh air. No excitement.
His sister had given him letters of introduction to some people in the area, so he wouldn't be lonely. He hated meeting new people. But he went.
The first house he visited was the Sappletons'. A maid showed him into the sitting room. And there he was greeted by the niece of the lady of the house. A very calm, very self-possessed young lady of fifteen.
"My aunt will be down in a moment, Mr. Nuttel," she said. "In the meantime, you'll have to put up with me."
They sat. There was an awkward silence. Framton didn't know what to say.
"Do you know many people around here?" the niece asked.
"Hardly anyone," he said. "My sister gave me letters of introduction."
"Then you don't know anything about my aunt?"
"Only her name and address," he said.
"Then you don't know about her great tragedy."
The fire is still burning
The rest of this story is sealed.
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