Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 26

Characters Present:

The French Army

Location: 

Moscow

The French army have arrived in Moscow, but it quickly ceases to be an army as the troops realise that Moscow has been abandoned.  The men disperse quickly over the city, appropriating valuables and claiming new homes.  Many of them come to their doom, after leaving the city a few weeks later, trying to carry their stolen goods, much like a monkey with its fist full of nuts in an narrow necked jar. 

Moscow, being mostly built of wood, eventually gets burnt down.  It is debated as to whether it was to be attributed to Rostopchín being vengeful, or to the carelessness of the soldiers living in a city that didn't really belong to them.

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 25

Characters Present:

Count Rostopchín
Vereshchágin

Location: 

Moscow


Count Rostopchín is feeling like his efforts to save Moscow have ignored and belittled by the orders of Kutúzov. 

He hears a mob at the front of his house, and the traitor, Vereshchágin is dragged into the yard.

Rostopchín goes out, and commands the crowd and the troops to tear him apart, to kill him.  At first they are reluctant, but they soon get over this and kill the poor, fragile, starved man. 

Rostopchín feels mildly bad about it later, and calls the crowd animals.

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 24

Characters Present:

Count Rostopchín

Location: 

Moscow

Count Rostopchín has a meeting with Kutúzov and is offended when he is not invited to the subsequent war council.  Kutúzov has ignored his offer to help defend Moscow, since Kutúzov's plan was to abandon Moscow.

He has instead been asked to provide police officers to help escort some troops through the city. 

Rostopchín gets sulky, and won't give any orders.

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 23

Characters Present:

A young blonde man who would be handsome if not for his gloomy eyes and grim mouth
Some drunken people

Location: 

A pub, Moscow

A young blonde man, who would be handsome if not for his gloomy eyes and grim mouth, is in a pub, seeming to think himself above the rest of the patrons.  The patrons are laboriously singing baudy songs, while the man repeatedly and carefully rolls up his grubby shirt sleeve.

He calls out for everyone to stop singing, for there has been a fight. Apparently a smith has beaten someone, possibly a thief, to death. 

Chaos ensues between the public and whatever authorities are around.

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 22

Characters Present:

Mávra Kuzmínichna
Ignát, the yard porter
Míshka, a page boy

Location: 

The Rostóv's home, Moscow

Moscow is deserted, except for some servants left over at the Rostóvs home.

Ignát and Miska are in the drawing room, and Mishka dares to play a few keys on the clavicord until Mávra, his aunt, catches him, and tells him off.

There is a knock at the door, and it is a young, tattered looking officer, asking for Count Rostóv.  The young officer says that he is a nephew, and that he had come to borrow a small amount of money. Mávra gives him 25 rubles, and the young officer runs off to rejoin his regiment. 

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 21

Characters Present:

The Russian army

Location: 

Moscow

The Russian army are passing through Moscow to evacuate any citizens who have remained.

One of the groups of soldiers is escorting a group of men, released from prison.

Everything is a bit chaotic, as some of the soldiers are running away, and some of the prisoners seem to be trying to loot a shop.

A few shop owners try to bribe soldiers to stay with their business, or to have it protected, because of looting.