Long, long ago, when kings were ruling Sri Lanka, there lived a famous court jester by the name of Andare. By his many tricks and witty jests, he amused the queen and the kingat all times of the day. He was therefore allowed much liberty at the court. One morning, when he went to the palace, he saw some sugar spread out to dry, on a mat in an inner courtyard. He pretended not to know what it was and asked the queen, “, what is this stuff on the mat?” “It is a kind of white sand, Andare,” replied the queen. “Do you want some of it?” “Oh, no my lord; not so soon,” said Andare and immediately thought of a cunning plan to eat the sugar. When he returned home that evening, he told his wife and son of the sugar in the palace and his plan to eat it up. The following morning he gave instructions to his son, and off to the palace he went. The queen happened to be once again in the same courtyard. The sugar had been again put out to dry. The queen and Andare were soon in deep conversation ...