Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 18

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Michael Mikháylovich Speránski

Location:

Speránski's  home

On the day following the ball, Prince Andrew reflects on the pleasant evening that he had, and remembers Natasha Rostóv fondly.

In his office, Prince Andrew has trouble settling in to do his work and regrets having accepted to attend a quiet dinner at Michael Mikháylovich Speránski's home.

Prince Andrew goes to the dinner, and discovers that he doesn't like Speránski nearly as much as he thought he did, and is bored and mildly disgusted by the whole evening.  He leaves, feeling disillusioned with all of the work that he has been putting into legal reforms and the crowd of people he had been associating with.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Michael Mikháylovich Speránski

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Location:

Petersburg

Prince Andrew and Speránski become better friends, and due to Speránski's lower "breeding" Prince Andrew cannot see his weaknesses.  Instead, he feels the same strong passion and admiration for him as he once felt for Napoleon. 

They discuss Russian law quite a lot, and in addition to becoming a member of the Committee on Army Regulations, he also becomes a the chairman of the Committee for the revision of of the laws.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Count Kochubéy

Michael Mikháylovich Speránski (Secretary of State)

Location: 

Petersburg

Prince Andrew continues to prosper socially in Petersburg  - he has become rather popular after freeing some of his serfs; and his near death, combined with the death of his wife has made him a romantic figure amongst the women.

Prince Andrew meets with Count Kochubéy, who having heard about Prince Andrew's less than pleasant meeting with the Minister of War, sets up a meeting between Prince Andrew and the Secretary of State, Michael Mikháylovick Speránski. 

Prince Andrew finds that he greatly admires and envies Speránski, and the meeting goes well. Speránski invites Prince Andrew for dinner on the following Wednesday.