Murder at Château Lafite
It was early morning when Baron Eric de Rothschild discovered the body of one of his guests in the wine shed. He noticed that the door to he shed was slightly ajar and went inside to investigate. The guest was lying on his back near the center of the magisterial round room, a silver knife sticking out of his chest.
The murdered man, Mr.K, was a prosperous vintner from California who had come to with his wife to taste the old and rare wines of Château Lafite. At dinner, just as the first wine was being poured, Mr. K said : “I’m hoping to create a wine of a similar calibre at my vineyard in the Napa Valley.” Baron Rothschild served Mr and Mrs K. the most exquisite vintages with food to compliment the grapes. By the end of the meal, it was as if Mr. K had fallen into a strange reverie of his own.
Upon discovering Mr K’s body the next morning, the Baron immediately telephoned the police. There never had been a murder at Château Lafite. The Baron had to inform Mrs. K. and when he did, was surprised by her unmoved attitude. The Baron and all his household were in shock when she was arrested. She said : “My husband actually asked me to kill him. He said that no wine would ever be the equal of château Lafite and he was going to shut down our vineyard immediately. His last words to me were: ‘Rather than die and go to heaven, I choose to go to heaven and then die. Please kill me’. So I did.”
The Baron had dinner alone that night. He drank a bottle of Château Lafite 1947 and truly, he thought Mr. K indeed had a rather good point.
