Laurent: The Royal Bedchamber Summary

Laurent and Tristan, the only slaves chosen, are led into the Sultan's bedchamber, which is decorated with slaves. As the Sultan explores the welts on Laurent's back, a result of his whipping, Laurent is deeply ashamed. His shame escalates to the point of tears when he is forced to march across the room and back as a display, but the Sultan wipes his tears. As Tristan is forced through the same procedure, Laurent has the opportunity to observe that the Sultan is youthful, handsome, pleasant and not proud. Next, Tristan and Laurent play a game in which Lexius rolls a ball across the floor and the boys chase it, still in their submissive squatting position, and retrieve it with their hands tied behind their backs. In each round, the loser is whipped.

Tristan wins four of the...