Reading Response #4

After Arledge met Mr. Bonington he was disappointed because he didn't match the description of the man who kidnapped Bayham. The two of them along with Florence and Bayham and they have a drink at a cafe together. Throughout their conversation Arledge tries to get Bayham to explain the story of his kidnapping. Bayham and his companions avoid the subject until Bayham confronts Arledge about it and explains that he wishes to forget about it.

I am interested as to why Bayham wishes to forget the incident. Could it be that something happened that he hasn't told anyone? Is he hiding something? Did he make it up? He says to Arledge, "'My good Mr. Arledge, if they interrupted me it was only because they know that I would prefer never to talk about that incident again'" (59). This confirms what was said in the letter to Arledge about the kidnapping: "'This way, perhaps, I may be able to avoid having to retell the story over and over again, for I have no doubt that it will be of great interest to our friends, all of whom have been so terribly worried by my absence and, for the same reason, I fear, will demand the relative satisfaction of an explanation'" (28). What are Bayham's motives?