"And Pippand?"
"Pippand joined the army, serving at Byouatier, where he conspired with a power-hungry general named Bouffinger, and ambushed the Sharcoléonists with secret aid from orcs. That which would have earned a court-martial under Sharcoléon served as a recommendation to the Telbourbons. He returned to the Shiré with the rank of boundier. Bouffinger's protection did not abandon Pippand; in 1827 he became captain, and, in alliance with Sacqueville-Danglars (who had need of wood for yet another financial scheme), led a force into the Old Forest and cut down hundreds of trees, and made a great bonfire in the Forest, and burnt all the ground in a long strip east of the Haye. His Brandiboucque connections proved invaluable in this little adventure, and he was rewarded with the office of shirrife and the title of count."
"Destiny, destiny!" murmured the abbé.
"Nor is that all, for Pippand took to adventuring in Harade, and participated in the war between the Sultan of Minas-Morgoule and the defenders of Quirithe-Oungallant. Soon afterwards, it was learnt that the Count de Pérégrin, as he called himself, was in the service of Ala-Pallando who, before being slain, recompensed Pippand's services with the hoard of Sqathah le Ver, with which Pippand returned to the Shiré, and was duly elevated to the rank of third maréchal, so that now he owns the entire Rue des Chandeliers."
