Michael Larson-Roberts is a white gentleman who was visiting a hotel in France where he came upon a young Christophe. Christophe is malnourished and ill-treated so he takes the young boy away. They travel together all over Greece, Egypt, Rome, and Paris. He feeds and educates Christophe and becomes like a father, brother, and lover to the young man. Eventually, Michael's ties to Christophe become too much for the young man, and when Christophe leaves him, he follows Christophe to New Orleans. Many people think the worst of Michael, especially Christophe's mother who believes he has stolen the boy. When Michael falls ill to yellow fever, Christophe is beside himself and goes into a depression that finds him in the arms of the vindictive Dolly Rose, leading to a string of misjudgments on Christophe's part.