Eudoxia knows that her son has not died, but has gone on a secret mission to France. After leaving his unit, Tolstoy finds Varya in Elizabeth's chambers. Varya admits that she is a prisoner of Constantine. Alexander invites Tolstoy to his house and informs him that Peter is alive and in France on his instructions. The purpose of Peter's mission is to obtain Napoleon's secret correspondence with the Austrian court. Alexander instructs Tolstoy to take Peter a package for Napoleon.