"A vendetta, perhaps.

I live in Italy, and therefore know the Italians well," I added.
I had given him my card, and told him with whom I was staying.
"Where were you yesterday, sir ?" he inquired presently.
"I was shooting--on the other side of the Nithsdale," I answered, and then went on to explain my movements, without, however, mentioning my visit to Rannoch.
"And although you know the murdered man so intimately, you have no suspicion of anyone in this district who was acquainted with him ?" "I know no one who knew him.

When he left my service he had never been in England." "You say he was engaged in service in London ?" "Yes, at a restaurant in Oxford Street, I believe.

I met him accidentally in Pall Mall one evening, and he told me so." "You don't know the name of the restaurant ?" "He did tell me, but unfortunately I have forgotten." The detective drew a deep breath of regret.
"Someone who waited for him on the edge of that wood stepped out and killed him--that's evident," he said.
"Without a doubt." "And my belief is that it was an Italian.

There were two foreigners who slept at a common lodging-house two nights ago and went on tramp towards Glasgow.