Volume 1: Book 5 - Chapter 7

Characters Present:

Anna Pávlovna

Boris Drubetskóy

Prince Hippolyte Kurágin

Countess Hélène Kuragina

Location: 

Anna Pávlovna's house in Petersburg/Countess Hélène's house

The soiree goes on and Prince Hippolyte holds everyone's attention with a series of jokes about Prussia.

The evening ends and Hélène insists that Boris Drubetskóy go around to see her on the coming Tuesday.  He goes, and doesn't understand why he was invited, as she barely speaks to him.  

Hélène then requests that he go to see her again for dinner the following evening, and the book then describes Boris as becoming an "intimate" in the countess's house.

Book 2 - Chapter 11

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Bilíbin

Prince Hippolyte Kurágin

three other men, described as diplomats

Location: 

Bilíbin's house

Prince Andrew wakes at Bilíbin's house and puts on his dress uniform, for today, he is to meet with the Emperor Francis. 

He heads downstairs to Bilíbin's study and finds him in there in light-hearted conversation with Prince Hippolyte Kurágin and three other men who are diplomats.  Bolkónski learns that Kurágin is super popular with the ladies, and he gets invited out with the group to see the sights and attractive women of Brünn.

Bolkónski declines, explaining that he must meet with the Emperor that morning. Bilíbin advises him try and talk a lot, as the Emperor dislikes speaking.

Volume 1: Book 1 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Anna Pávlovna
Prince Hippolyte Kurágin
Princess Lisa Bolkónskaya
Vicomte Mortemarte
Pierre Bezukhov
Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Location:

Firstly at Anna Pávlovna´s reception

Secondly, Prince Andrew´s study.

The guests finally leave the reception and Hippolyte gets a bit touchy-feely with Lisa. Mortemart notices and is nothing but encouraging.

The scene then moves to Pierre lying languidly on Andrew´s sofa, where they discuss what occupation that Pierre will take. Prince Andrew reveals that he will soon leave for battle.

Book 1 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

Anna Pávlovna

Vicomte Mortemart

Pierre Bezukhov

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Hippolyte Kurágin

Setting:

Still at Anna Pávlovna´s reception

The discussion about Napoleon has moved into more serious realms, with Andrew snidely disagreeing with anything that Mortemart has to say on the matter.

Mortemart believes that if Napoleon is on the throne for one year longer, then matters will have gone too far and that French society will be forever doomed. Prince Andrew believes that it will now be too difficult to return France to its prior state.

To Anna´s horror, Pierre decides to add his two cents and says that Napoleon is fantastic and that his various horrifying acts, including the execution of the Duc, are signs of a great leader. Despite all of this being very awkward, this endears Pierre to Andrew even more, and Hippolyte steps in to save the day with an extraordinarily awkward anecdote about a woman who prefers large servants.

Volume 1: Book 1 - Chapter 3

Characters Present:

Anna Pávlovna

Princess Hélène Kuragina

Princess Lisa Bolkónskaya

Vicomte Mortemart

Pierre Bezukhov

Prince Hippolyte Kurágin 

An Abbot

Location:

Still at Anna´s reception.

The party is now in full swing, and the guests have formed into three groups; the most interesting being the the one with Mortemart at the centre, who is gossiping about the murder of Duc d´Enghien.

Mortemart is so charming that the beautiful Hélène´s circle merge into his and Mortemart proceeds to tell a tale of Duc d´Enghien going to Paris secretly to visit Mademoiselle George. At her house, he meets Bonaparte, who reportedly also enjoys the Mademoiselle's favours. Apparently Bonaparte fainted in the presence of Duc d´Enghien and due to extreme embarrassment, Bonaparte had the Duc killed.

Anna interrupts an impolite conversation between the Abbot and Pierre, and proceeds to move them into the larger group so that she can observe and control their conversation.