Italics, as used in the sentences "Only a week ago? One night? One single night?" are used O to show these are foreign words
O to create irony, the opposite of Wiesel's intended meaning
to show the word is part of dialogue
O to show special emphasis or emotion

To show special emphasis or emotion

The man thinks she's the lady he's trying to find. she then lifts the veil and he announces that he'd made a mistake and that he'd thought she was the woman, but had been wrong. truthfully, though, he'd been right. this reveals that the he didnt recognize her (though he said he would recognize her voice or her build) and that he's still looking for the girl. he doesnt find the woman appealing or attractive, and is more or less disgusted by her appearance. he didn't understand what the lady meant when she told him the story about her "friend"