Paul is an upper-class young man who is about to start at a grande Ã©cole, one of the system of mostly public colleges to which students are admitted based on a highly competitive process and whose graduates often gain prestigious employment. He has chosen to live with two new roommates instead of his girlfriend AgnÃ¨s.
As a result, with his studies, he has little time to see her. AgnÃ¨s perceives cracks in their relationship when she suspects Paul's attraction to one of his new roommates, the aristocratic Louis-Arnault. Paul denies any homosexual attraction, but AgnÃ¨s decides to make a bet with him: whichever of them beds Louis-Arnault first, wins. If she does, Paul must stop exploring his sexuality; if he does, she will leave him.
Before the bet plays out, Paul meets MÃ©cir, a young Arab worker, who becomes besotted with him. With MÃ©cir, Paul goes on a journey of discovery that changes many of his ideas about class, cultural differences and sexuality.
Who goes on a journey of discovery?
Paul