Rudradhir held secret discussions with the nobles Kartavir and Sarvarth, and Vishnu Sharma, the savant, devising an intrigue for overthrowing the authority of the low-born heathens and Sudras. His proposal was that they should catch their enemies unaware and destroy them. ‘An ant awake is much more dangerous than a sleeping elephant,’ he said.

The Brahmins of Madra, deprived of power and privilege and disheartened by the Buddhist dominance, sat back and waited, content with the offerings from the religious sacrifices. The army of Madra was under the control of Prestha, the magnate, Okris, the Greek noble and Commander Prithusen. In these conditions, the high-caste families and the Brahmin feudatory chiefs took no interest in the army. They were squandering the income from their estates on dissipation, instead of recruiting and maintaining soldiers. Prestha knew this and yet said nothing. Acharya Rudradhir understood how the Brahmin nobles, displaying a lack of foresight, were playing right into Prestha’s hands.

The Acharya counselled the Brahmin nobles that outwardly they should pretend to remain indifferent, but in secret, set about raising an army of their own on their estates. As time passed, bands of soldiers began to infiltrate into Sagal in the guise of ordinary citizens. To counter the arrogant heathen belief about the equality of all castes, they decided to proclaim Sarvarth, the noble, of the ancient Paurav family, as the new President of the Republic.

Acharya Rudradhir came to know through his spies and informers that the Chairman of the Council had received intelligence that the armies of the neighbouring kingdom of Katha were massing for an attack on the western border of Madra. The Acharya gave deep thought to this news. He summoned his counsellors and said, ‘There is no room now for delay. Surely, Prestha is anticipating the death of the ailing President in the very near future. Under the cover of the threat of invasion, he wants to bring his own soldiers into the town. Prithusen is certainly in the plot. By assuming the guise of protectors of the people, they want to frighten the people and win over their support.’

Devi Mallika got up from her seat to welcome Acharya Rudradhir after his long sojourn abroad. She made him sit next to her, and with particular regard offered him the customary welcoming hospitality of a betel-leaf and a bowl of wine. She expressed her condolences on the death of his father, and showed great curiosity and interest in his long stay abroad.

Acharya Rudradhir had little understanding of the fine arts, and even less interest in them, but he noticed the lacklustre appearance of Devi Mallika’s entourage. She herself looked tired and dispirited. Signs of age had begun to show on her face and in her body. In the audience too there was neither the old gathering of art lovers, nor was much quality to be seen in the performances. Many of Devi Mallika’s pupils had left her after completing their training. Those who remained were mediocrities.