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Gordon's appointment for it took Lord Hartington some time to
realise the implications of anything； but Lord Hartington was
very far from being a fool； and we may well suppose that he
instinctively； perhaps subconsciously； apprehended the elements
of a situation which he never formulated to himself。 However that
may be； certain circumstances are significant。 It is significant
that the go…between who acted as the Government's agent in its
negotiations with Gordon was an imperialist Lord Wolseley。 It
is significant that the 'Ministers' whom Gordon finally
interviewed；
and who actually determined his appointment were by no means the
whole
of the Cabinet； but a small section of it； presided over by Lord
Hartington。
It is significant； too； that Gordon's mission was represented
both to Sir
Evelyn Baring； who was opposed to his appointment； and to Mr。
Gladstone； who
was opposed to an active policy in the Sudan； as a mission merely
'to
report'； while； no sooner was the mission actually decided upon；
than it began to assume a very different complexion。 In his final
interview with the 'Ministers'； Gordon we know （though he said
nothing about it to the Rev。 Mr Barnes） threw out the suggestion
that it might be as well to make him the Governor…General of the
Sudan。 The suggestion； for the moment； was not taken up； but it
is obvious that a man does not propose to become a Governor…
General in order to make a report。
We are in the region of speculations； one other presents itself。
Was the movement in the Press during that second week of January
a genuine movement； expressing a spontaneous wave of popular
feeling？ Or was it a cause of that feeling； rather than an
effect？ The engineering of a newspaper agitation may not have
been an impossibility even so long ago as 1884。 One would like
to know more than one is ever likely to know of the relations of
the imperialist section of the Government with Mr。 Stead。
But it is time to return to the solidity of fact。 Within a few
hours of his interview with the Ministers； Gordon had left
England forever。 At eight o'clock in the evening； there was a
little gathering of elderly gentlemen at Victoria Station。
Gordon； accompanied by Colonel Stewart； who was to act as his
second…in…command； tripped on to the platform。 Lord Granville
bought the necessary tickets； the Duke of Cambridge opened the
railway…carriage door。 The General jumped into the train； and
then Lord Wolseley appeared； carrying a leather bag； in which was
￡200 in gold； collected from friends at the last moment for the
contingencies of the journey。 The bag was handed through the
window。 The train started。 As it did so； Gordon leaned out and
addressed a last whispered question to Lord Wolseley。 Yes； it had
been done。 Lord Wolseley had seen to it himself； next morning；
every member of the Cabinet would receive a copy of Dr。 Samuel
Clarke's Scripture Promises。 That was all。 The train rolled out
of the station。
Before the travellers reached Cairo； steps had been taken which
finally put an end to the theory if it had ever been seriously
held that the purpose of the mission was simply the making of a
report。 On the very day of Gordon's departure； Lord Granville
telegraphed to Sir Evelyn Baring as follows： 'Gordon suggests
that it may be announced in Egypt that he is on his way to
Khartoum to arrange for the future settlement of the Sudan for
the best advantage of the people。' Nothing was said of
reporting。 A few days later； Gordon himself telegraphed to Lord
Granville suggesting that he should be made Governor…General of
the Sudan； in order to 'accomplish the evacuation'； and to
'restore to the various Sultans of the Sudan their independence'。
Lord Granville at once authorised Sir Evelyn Baring to issue； if
he thought fit； a proclamation to this effect in the name of the
Khedive。 Thus the mission 'to report' had already swollen into a
Governor…Generalship； with the object； not merely of effecting
the evacuation of the Sudan； but also of setting up 'various
Sultans' to take the place of the Egyptian Government。
In Cairo； in spite of the hostilities of the past； Gordon was
received with every politeness。 He was at once proclaimed
Governor…General of the Sudan； with the widest powers。 He was on
the point of starting off again on his journey southwards； when a
singular and important incident occurred。 Zobeir； the rebel
chieftain of Darfur； against whose forces Gordon had struggled
for years； and whose son； Suleiman； had been captured and
executed by Gessi； Gordon's lieutenant； was still detained at
Cairo。 It so fell out that he went to pay a visit to one of the
Ministers at the same time as the new Governor…General。 The two
men met face to face； and； as he looked into the savage
countenance of his old enemy； an extraordinary shock of
inspiration ran through Gordon's brain。 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。 The
Emir； who had been living in domestic retirement in Cairo； was
with some difficulty discovered； given ￡2；000； an embroidered
uniform； together with the largest decoration that could be
found； and informed that he was to start at once with General
Gordon for the Sudan； where it would be his duty to occupy the
province of Darfur； after driving out the forces of the Mahdi。
The poor man begged for a little delay； but no delay could be
granted。 He hurried to the railway station in his frockcoat and
fez； and rather the worse for liquor。 Several extra carriages for
his twenty…three wives and a large q