This letter, in both English and German, is currently being given to tourists who go to the Questura at Campo San Lorenzo in search of Commissario Brunetti. It was written at the request of the Questore, Dottor Maurizio Masciopinto, who asked me to write something to convince the visitors that Dottor Brunetti is not in the employ of the Polizia di Stato and thus cannot be found at the Questura.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the Questura of Venice! Your enthusiasm for Commissario Brunetti and the people who work with and for him has brought you here, after having walked and gotten lost in the streets of Venice. If you were looking for Brunetti, or Signorina Elettra, Vianello, even for Vice-Questore Patta, I have to tell you, much to my regret, that they are not here today but are on a training course outside the city. However, you can still see the church of San Lorenzo, the canal, the dock for the police launch, and Palazzo Ziani, the building that houses the real police as well as those in the books.
The characters in the books are, of course, fictional. The people working inside the Questura – and I have known some of them for years – are far more serious about and far better at their work than are some of the characters in the books. In fact, the real police do an excellent job of keeping the city safe, and it remains one of the safest cities in the world.
When the characters return from their course, they will go back to being what they are. Alvise will continue to make a fool of himself, Rizzardi will give his respectful attention to the dead, Vianello will still know almost everyone in the city, and Griffoni will continue to suffer in her small office.
And Signorina Elettra? I confess that I have no idea at all of what she is doing or how she does it. I know only that she does it with her computer and with the contacts she has with people who know things she wants to know. And she wears wonderful clothing.
Brunetti will continue to read the Greek and Roman classics in the hope that these writers will help him understand the nature of justice.
I’d like to thank you for the enthusiasm that has led you to the Questura and hope that future books will continue to interest and please you.
Most sincerely,
Donna Leon