Saki is able to quickly weave an increasingly tense and suspenseful mood in “The Open Window” through the use of foreshadowing, word choice, and tone. The reader receives the first hint that Vera may be up to no good when she tells Framton Nuttel that “you must try and put up with me.” This line causes the reader to question why Vera is implying that her presence is difficult to manage. The suspicion surrounding Vera is further developed as she ensures that Nuttel does not know her aunt before telling him about the “tragedy.” The contrast between Vera’s unsettling story and Nuttel’s desire for peace and tranquility creates an air of tension. The suspense grows as Vera’s aunt enters, behaving as if no tragedy had ever taken place. The lack of