In Saki's "The Open Window," Framton Nuttel is a stranger to the Sappleton house. Before he is able to speak directly with Mrs. Sappleton, Vera, her niece, asks about him. She wonders if he knows anyone in the area, whereupon Nuttel admits that he knows no one. He tells the girl that his sister used to live around those parts and has sent him with letters of introduction. Once Vera understands Mr. Nuttel's situation, and that he would not know the truth from a lie about anyone from the area, she starts lying about her aunt having suffered a tragedy. Vera opens her lie, or her imaginative story, as follows:
"Her great tragedy happened just three years ago . . . that would be since your sister's time."
This is the beginning of Vera's fictional story and pratical joke. Everything after this point is an act on Vera's part as she draws the poor stranger into her game.
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