The Secret History

Richard is anxious about dressing appropriately for lunch with Bunny. He borrows a silk jacket from a party-loving costume design student named Judy Poovey, who also tells him that she knows Bunny. She then relates an odd encounter at one of her parties, wherein she had a drunk altercation with Camilla that led one of her male friends to rise to her defense. Henry and Charles then violently defended Camilla, breaking the man’s collarbone and ribs. At the restaurant, Bunny warmly welcomes Richard and orders a lavish lunch with multiple courses and many alcoholic beverages. Over lunch, Bunny fills Richard in on the backgrounds of Julian’s students, expressing particular discomfort with the idea that Francis might be gay. After dinner, Bunny pretends that he accidentally left his wallet at home and attempts to stick Richard with the bill. When Richard truthfully explains that he is unable to pay, Bunny calls Henry, who arrives disgruntled, as Bunny has pulled this stunt many times.

The next day on campus, Charles and Camilla talk to Richard about his lunch with Bunny. Denying Richard’s observation that Henry and Bunny do not like each other, Camilla reflects that Henry’s seriousness balances Bunny’s frivolity. Charles and Camilla invite Richard over for dinner at their apartment, and Henry, Bunny, and Francis join them.