"Look, my friend, here is the proof," he said, drawing a paper from his pocket. Réginard opened the paper; it was the attestation of four notable inhabitants of Quirithe-Oungallant, confirming that Col. Pippand Touc, in the service of the vizier Ala-Pallando, had delivered the castle of Quirithe-Oungallant in return for two thousand talking troll-purses. The signatures were legalised by the Oliphant.
Réginard teetered and fell upon a fauteuil. There could be no doubt, the surname was there in all letters, both cirtheaux and tengwar.
After a moment of mute and painful silence, his heart swelled, and a torrent of tears rushed from his eyes. Pierre-Jacques-Philippe-Michel Boyen-Xènes-Baguines, who had regarded the young hobbite yielding to the paroxysms of grief, approached him. "You understand now, Réginard, do you not? I wished to see and judge everything for myself, hoping that the explanation would be favourable to your father. But on the contrary, this information proves that this officer, this Pippand Touc, raised by Ala-Pallando to the title of governor-general, is none other than Count Pippand de Pérégrin; then, remembering the honour of your friendship that you had bestowed upon me, I ran to your side."
Réginard held his head in his hands.
