Summary of 'The Open Window' by W.W. Jacobs

Summary of "The Open Window"

In W.W. Jacob's short story "The Open Window," we meet Anne Catherick who is bedridden following a mysterious accident. After two years without contact from her loved ones, she receives a letter from her former fiancé, Mr. Annandale. When he visits, she tells him a scandalous tale involving a murder committed by Sir Patrick Hamilton, his friend and business partner. As Sir Patrick enters the room, suddenly possessed with an overwhelming urge to confess his crime, fate takes its course.

Sir Patrick was accused of killing his wife after being caught in their bedroom with another woman during a party. Bound by a blood oath never to reveal the truth, the disgraceful event was covered up, giving rise to rumors that he had murdered his wife. Despite the investigation, there were no witnesses to the crime other than Lady Anna herself, who died shortly afterward.

Mr. Annandale returns home to London and consults his lawyer, Mr. Smith. They devise a plan where Annandale will return to Bath under the guise of helping Mrs. Ferrars find a lodger. He leaves for Bath accompanied by Mrs. Ferrars, while Mr. Smith stays behind in London to keep watch over Anne Catherick until they make further plans.

In Bath, they rent a house on St. Margarets Terrace, close to Mrs. Anne Catherick's home. One evening while out walking, Mr. Annandale sees Anne's window open and inquires about it with the landlord, Mrs. Bryerly. She explains that her daughter Mary is spending time with Anne every day. Suddenly, Mrs. Ferrars vanishes and Mr. Annandale grows concerned. Imagining a tragic end for her, he sends a message requesting help.

Meanwhile, Anne, now Mrs. Dornford, has been living with Sir Patrick Hamilton. Having lost everything due to the scandal, she is still dependent on Hamilton financially and emotionally. Despite this, she remains determined to unveil the truth. She continues to tell her story to anyone new whom she meets, hoping to find someone who can help her expose Sir Patrick's secret.

As the story unfolds, we learn more about Sir Patrick Hamilton himself. Although he appears to be successful and well-respected in society, he conceals a dark secret connected to a series of deaths occurring around his wife's disappearance. This includes that of Mary Bryerly and others.

Eventually, through the efforts of Mrs. Ferrars and Mary Bryerly, justice prevails. Sir Patrick is arrested and Mrs. Ferrars reveals her true identity—Mrs. Edith Anne Fordham, widow of the deceased detective inspector. The mystery of the open window is finally solved, and the characters involved receive their just deserts.