ABSTRACT
To return now to the party in Switzerland. – Lord Alton, as he was passing from the house of the Eaglefield family to his hotel, heard the sound of a number of persons in high dispute, and the cries of a woman in apparent distress. He immediately went up to the place, and found several people, well-dressed, surrounding a lady. He inquired into the cause, and was answered with roughness by one of the persons, that it was no affair of his. Lord Alton replied with great spirit, that to assist a female, who was insulted, was the affair of every one who deserved the / name of man. High words now passed on each side, and Lord Alton would have suffered for his interference, had not the city guard come up. The affair was investigated; when it appearing that it was only a riot occasioned by a number of young men heated with wine, and a prostitute in the same situation (for such was the distressed damsel), and one of the persons, who was a son of a principal magistrate, answering for their appearance in the morning, if necessary, they were all discharged on condition of immediately separating. Before they parted, however, the young man, just mentioned, between whom and Lord Alton the high words had passed, desired his address, which was immediately given.
