During the previous days, Pierre has been secretly living in Osip Bazdyev's house, sorting the papers of his dead benefactor. Besides Gerasim, the butler, and Osip's besotted half-mad elder brother, no one else lives there. In his solitude, Pierre conceived the fantastic idea of assassinating Napoleon upon his entrance to the city tomorrow. With this purpose in mind, accompanied by Gerasim, he is on his way to purchase a pistol when Pierre meets the Rostovs.
Napoleon poses on the hill and looks down at Moscow; the goal of his ambitions awaits him. He will convene the nobles, and in a stirring speech he has prepared, will convince them of his peaceful intentions and of his interest in the welfare of his new subjects. As Napoleon awaits the expected deputation, his adjutants are too ashamed to inform him that the city is empty, except for drunken mobs in the streets. Finally, Bonaparte enters Moscow. Tolstoy likens the great city to a deserted beehive that looks inhabited and healthy from the outside, but is totally defunct within.
Because Rastoptchin interfered with the tide of destiny, he caused great harm to his country's cause. Besides Moscow being the only city during the war where rioting occurred, valuable food stores, equipment, church relics, and other necessities helpful to the army were left behind because the governor, eager to exercise power, refused to abandon the city in time. An eager mob, convened at his earlier orders, forms outside his palace willing to fight a last stand against the French. But Rastoptchin has lost heart and realizes his mistake. Rather than admit his miscalculations to the people, he decides to throw them a victim and subdue their excitement. He pushes the prisoner, Vereshtchagin, into their midst and rouses the mob to beat this youth to death. Rastoptchin consoles his guilt feelings by convincing himself he acted in the public welfare. But the echo of the crime in his soul shames him forever.
