Page:The Kural or The Maxims Of Tiruvalluvar.pdf/183

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THE KURAL

586. Spies and scouts shall disguise themselves as ascetics and holy men, and their investigation shall be thorough : and whatever is done them, they shall not let out their secrets.

587. Behold the man who can draw out secrets from others and whose information is ever unconfused and clear: he is the man for the work of intelligence.

588. Even the information that hath been obtained by a spy shall be tested by that of another.

589. See that no spy knoweth the others engaged in the same work : when three reports agree, thou mayest give credence to them.

590. Reward not openly thy officers of Intelligence: for if thou do, thou merely lettest out thy own secret.

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