Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 18

Characters Present:

Pierre Bezukov
Gerásim

Location:

Moscow 

Pierre is confused after being told to leave Moscow by Count Rostopchín, and his confusion is later compounded by the news that his wife is marrying someone else.

He drifts over to his now deceased benefactor, Joseph Bazdéev's home, and asks for access to his library where Pierre spends some time reading old masonic tomes and manuscripts.

The housekeeper, Gerásim, asks if he can help with anything, and Pierre asks if him if he is aware that there will be a battle on the morrow, and sends him out to procure some peasants clothes.

Pierre begs Gerásim not to reveal his identity, and they go to the market to buy a pistol, which is where Pierre meets with the Rostóv family.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 10

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Boris Drubetskóy

Location:

The Berzúkhov household, Petersburg

Pierre makes several entries in his diary, outlining his distaste for his wife Hélèn's friends and his hatred for Boris Drubetskóy who has also joined the Freemasons. 

Pierre goes on to describe his dreams, which indicate that he feels he is not serving God as well as he could.  

Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev (his original sponsor in joining the masons) comes to him in another dream, and tells him that he should be intimate with his wife, as it is wrong to withhold husbandly affections from her.  The next day he receives a letter  from Bazdéev saying that Pierre should have some conjugal visits with his wife.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 8

Characters Present:

Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev

Hélène Kuragina

Pierre Bezukhov

Location:

Petersburg/Moscow

After his failed speech, Pierre descends into depression.  He also receives word that his wife, Hélène, would like to restore their marriage. 

Pierre goes to visit his mentor Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev in Moscow for advice, and Pierre is advised to look back to the basic structure of the Masons, and to both forgive his wife and ask for her forgiveness.  Alexéevich also advises Pierre to take a more humble role in the Petersburg Masons, and to quietly guide them away from pride into humility.

Pierre returns to Petersburg, and his wife, Hélène moves back in.

Volume 1: Book 5 - Chapter 2

Characters Present:

Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev (Strange old man)
Count Pierre Bezukhov
Location: 

Moscow

The strange old man turns out to be Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev, who is a prominent mason, thus the ring.  He invites Pierre to sit with him.

Pierre says that he has an life opposite to that of the masons, and the old man asks if he has found god.  Pierre replies that he is completely opposed to such notions, and Bazdéev looks piteously at him.

Bazdéev then goes on about god for ages, and Pierre starts to feel better about his life, and asks the old man for help and he is handed a letter to take to Count Willarski in Petersburg.