I was, however, wary not to commit myself to anything further than the identification of the body.
"The fact is," I said confidentially, "you must omit me from the witnesses at the inquest." "Why ?" asked the detective suspiciously.
"Because if it were known that I have identified him, all chance of getting at the truth will at once vanish," I answered.

"I have come here to tell you in strictest confidence who the poor fellow really is." "Then you know something of the affair ?" he said, with a strong Highland accent.
"I know nothing," I declared.

"Nothing except his name." "H'm.

And you say he's a foreigner--an Italian--eh ?" "He was in my service in Leghorn for several years, and on leaving me he came to London and obtained an engagement as waiter in a restaurant.

His father lived in Leghorn; he was doorkeeper at the Prefecture." "But why was he here, in Scotland ?" "How can I tell ?" "You know something of the affair.