A small town in New Jersey, just after the end of World War I. During the revolutionary war, this town was headquarters for General Washington, and the prison from that time has now become a restaurant and is a famous spot for tourists. The town has many old homes and old families. To this town come three young men: Bernard Stein, Christopher Wren, and Peter Ferguson. By chance, at the same time they each meet a woman and become engaged. To celebrate the end of their bachelorhood, they arrange to take a short boat trip south. Just as the boat is leaving, they each receive a letter from the same mysterious sender.