Vronsky entertains his cousin Betsy and another lady in a theatre box by recounting a humorous yet delicate scandal involving two intoxicated officers from his regiment, Pétritzky and young Prince Kédrof. He explains how the young men had playfully chased a stranger in a cab, mistakenly delivered an ardent love letter to her apartment door, and were subsequently ejected by an outraged civil servant named Wenden, whose pregnant wife had been deeply startled by the incident. Wenden formally complained to the regimental colonel, demanding severe punishment and threatening further action if justice was not served.
Recognizing the futility of a duel and wanting to protect the regiment's reputation, Wronsky took it upon himself to act as a reluctant diplomat. He mediated between the offended titular councillor and the unapologetic officers, navigating shifting moods of anger and apology. Although Wronsky deployed his best social skills and charm to appease Wenden, the reconciliation remained precarious and frustratingly difficult to finalize.
Later at the French theatre, Wronsky updates his colonel on the delicate mission and the mixed success of his negotiations. While the colonel acknowledges that Pétritzky's continuous mischief has made him a liability, he ultimately decides to let the matter drop rather than escalate it further. The two men then turn their attention away from the messy affair to admire the performance of a French actress on stage.