he only have made up his mind to risk a little, his superiority in numbers could scarcely have failed to prevail. Recognising this, Dupleix sent him, first entreaties, then commands. He told him that opportunities in war are rarely twice offered; that to strike whilst the enemy was reeling under his repulse from Krishnávaram was the true policy, the only policy. After much unnecessary hesitation, Law agreed, or seemed to agree; drew in his outposts, and made as though he would attack. But the responsibility was too great for his weak moral nature. At the critical moment he held back. Nor, when he received a despatch from Pondichery telling him that, to ensure him against molestation from Clive whilst he should be assailing Trichinopoli, Dupleix was threatening North Arcot and Madras, was he to be roused from his apathy.
The information furnished by Dupleix to Law was true. That great man, whose vision from the central point he occupied never deceived him, who ever recognised with the most perfect accuracy the thing which ought to be done, though he rarely possessed the men who would do it, had despatched 400 Frenchmen strengthen the levies of Chandá Sáhib in Arcot, and the combined forces were at the moment eating up the country in the vicinity of Madras. To watch them, Clive, who had hoped to be sent to relieve Trichinopoli, was despatched with a few troops to Madras. Two days after his arrival there, reinforcements from Bengal landed. Having now at his disposal 380
