He was seized, as he
explained in a State paper, which he drew up immediately after
the meeting, with a 'mystic feeling' that he could trust Zobeir.
It was true that Zobeir was 'the greatest slave-hunter who ever
existed'; it was true that he had a personal hatred of Gordon,
owing to the execution of Suleiman--'and one cannot wonder at it,
if one is a father'; it was true that, only a few days
previously, on his way to Egypt, Gordon himself had been so
convinced of the dangerous character of Zobeir that he had
recommended by telegram his removal to Cyprus. But such
considerations were utterly obliterated by that one moment of
electric impact of personal vision; henceforward ,there was a
rooted conviction in Gordon's mind that Zobeir was to be trusted,
that Zobeir must join him at Khartoum, that Zobeir's presence
would paralyse the Mahdi, that Zobeir must succeed him in the
government of the country after the evacuation. Did not Sir
Evelyn Baring, too, have the mystic feeling? Sir Evelyn Baring
confessed that he had not. He distrusted mystic feelings. Zobeir,
no doubt, might possibly be useful; but, before deciding upon so
important a matter, it was necessary to reflect and to consult.
In the meantime, failing Zobeir, something might perhaps be done
with the Emir Abdul Shakur, the heir of the Darfur Sultans.
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