scarcely susceptible to these, is seen in many of his acts. His dismissing the king's messenger with a precious jewel as present is, on his own showing, the result of a cunning calculation and nothing more. His handling JIVAKA tactfully throughout the play is all the result of dissimulation of a master hand. As a rule he does not directly advise JIVAKA to do or not to do. He only places certain facts before his king - of course the facts are such and are so presented as will lead only in one direction - and leaves the king to draw his own inference and come to his own conclusion. In this method of handling, the king feels that the conclusion proceeds solely from his own mind and not from KUDILA. KUDILA is thus free from direct responsibility. He does not, until he has got an approving nod from his king, openly advise him. He only throws out suggestions and hints, dark innuendos and indirect exclamations. And these accomplish their purpose more than any set speech of two hours duration can be expected to do. See how artfully he leads JIVAKA to read envy into SUNDARA'S character. He moots the question in I.iii. 16-18 which readily drawn from JIVAKA the expected response (I.iii. 19). For the selection of a messenger to PURUSHOTHAMA , KUDILA lays down the qualifications in very general terms (II. I. 167-180); JIVAKA easily takes the bait and at once selects PALADEVA (II.i. 183-5). Again how skillfully does KUDILA charge NARAYANA, the friend and companion of JIVAKA, with the highest crime in a subject - treason. Hearing that NARAYANA and his soldiers deserted their post, the King exclaims "துரோகம், துரோகம்". KUDILA, who wants to fix the King in that opinion of his, does not readily fall in with the view. He seems to hesitate, to show scruples of conscience, to fling that formidable charge against any one, much less against Narayana - he even goes to the extent of rebutting it (IV.iv. 26-8). But JIVAKA will not allow himself to be dislodged. He feels convinced of NARAYANA'S treasonable designs and exclaims in anger 'கெடுபயல்! துரோகம்! விடுகிலன்சிறிதில்' (IV.iv. 29). KUDILA, being a master of dissimulation, would not easily give in. He seemed to contest the King's view with a ludicrous defence (IV.iv. 30-2) and began to shed tears of compassion on the hapless bank. JIVAKA , not to be won over by this pleading either, felt all the more strengthened in his view and observes 'எத்தனை துட்டன்! எண்ணிலன் சற்றும்' (IV.iv. 36-7). With such cunning, there goes the companion vice, cowardice. KUDILA with all his intellectual power seems to occasionally fall into a quaking mood when courage deserts him. This may be due to the moral weakness at the core of his character. Failing that supreme sheet-anchor, consciousness of one's own innocence, one can hardly be sure of a smooth sailing in the stormy sea of life. He has to live in constant dread of strange squalls of circumstance and terrible storms of hostile forces which may swallow him up at any