The system worked — once someone was motivated to use it.

What Bourdin Was Seeking

A crucial and often underexplored dimension of the Bourdin case is the question of motivation.

What did he want?

The most obvious answer — money — doesn’t fit the facts particularly well.

He was not primarily extracting money from the Barclay family.

The family was not wealthy.

Whatever material benefit he received from living in their home was modest.