Prefect of Police:
[interviewing the first witness]
So, your name is Victor Albert Adolph Jules Hugo Louis Dupont?
Victor Albert Adolph Jules Hugo Louis Dupont, the Landlord:
Yes, sir.
Prefect of Police:
Why did you not investigate when you heard the first scream?
Victor Albert Adolph Jules Hugo Louis Dupont, the Landlord:
I... I was afraid.
Prefect of Police:
Stupid, incredibly stupid.
Franz Odenheimer:
[the next person approaches the Prefect, talking German]
Habe die Ehre, Herr Prefekt.
[It's my honor, Mr. Prefect.]
Prefect of Police:
What is your name and business?
Franz Odenheimer:
I am Franz Odenheimer. I own a restaurant.
Prefect of Police:
Odenheimer, in your own way, tell us what happened.
Franz Odenheimer:
You see, I was just going to bed. Then suddenly, I heard a scream. Right away, I ran across the street. And I was one of the first ones to enter this room. On the way upstairs, I heard a voice. And that voice was speaking Italian.
Prefect of Police:
[doubting his accuracy]
Do you speak Italian?
Franz Odenheimer:
No.
Prefect of Police:
Were you ever in Italy?
Franz Odenheimer:
No.
Prefect of Police:
How do you know it was Italian?
Franz Odenheimer:
Because I am sure it was Italian.
Prefect of Police:
[unconvinced]
Ah. Danke schön.
[Thank you.]
Prefect of Police:
[calls on next person]
Alberto Montani. What do you know of this affair?
Alberto Montani:
Well, I also heard the voice. But it was not Italian. I am Italian. I speak Italian.
Alberto Montani:
[says something in Italian, then continues in English]
When I ran up the stairs with the others, I heard the voice. It's not Italian, no. Definitely, it was Danish.
Prefect of Police:
Do you speak Danish?
Alberto Montani:
No.
Prefect of Police:
Were you ever in Denmark?
Alberto Montani:
No.
Prefect of Police:
How do you know it was Danish?
Alberto Montani:
My intuition.
The Dane:
[to Montani]
It was not Danish!
The Dane:
[to Prefect]
I beg your pardon, Your Honor. I am a native of Denmark. Danish is my native tongue. I heard the voice, but it was not Danish. It was German.
Franz Odenheimer:
[upset, approaches the Prefect]
Italian, not German.
Alberto Montani:
Danish.
The Dane:
German.
Franz Odenheimer:
[in German]
Ich lege meine Hand ans Lügners Feuer das es keiner Deutscher war!
[I put my hand on the Liar's Fire that it wasn't a German!]
The Dane:
[while Montani argues in Italian]
I say it was German.
Prefect of Police:
[while all 3 argue loudly in their native languages]
Silence!
Franz Odenheimer:
Italian.
Alberto Montani:
Danish.
The Dane:
German.
Prefect of Police:
Silence.
Riportata da il
05/03/2025 alle ore 07:40