And at dinner they inquire who lives at the top in that house.

No one knows; only their host's valet, in answer to their inquiry whether any 'young ladies' are living on the top floor, answered that there were a great many of them about there.

After dinner the two young men go into their host's study, and write a letter to the unknown fair one.

They compose an ardent epistle, a declaration in fact, and they carry the letter upstairs themselves, so as to elucidate whatever might appear not perfectly intelligible in the letter.

" "Why are you telling me these horrible stories? Well?" "They ring.