A NOTABLE CONFERENCE. 63 government depended in a great measure upon whether General Gordon returned alive and well from the Soudan, and upon whether, whilst residing at Cairo, Zebehr Pasha used his influence to facilitate the execution of the policy adopted by the government.

It would appear, therefore, that Gordon desired to confront Zebehr before witnesses representing the government, in order that the pasha should make any complaints against him and state the reasons for hostile feelings. It might be a preliminary step for removing such obstacles as would prevent Zebehr from acting with measurable loyalty towards him should he eventually seek to reinstall the ex-pasha in a position of authority at Khartum. The scene which took place at the conference was very remarkable. The British consul with judicial air; the seriously attentive Egyptian minister, Nubar, watchful, as being not certain of his ground, but probably quite aware that Zebehr was by no means deficient in the native accomplishment of unscrupulous and almost illimitable lying, and that he would certainly exercise it on the occasion; the British officers, less gorgeous than the pashas, among whom Zebehr himself was a picturesque figure as to costume, with his shining yet shadowy, sinister, thin, scowling face, the black skin drawn about the temples and above the close bushy eyebrows, the short thick moustache beneath the fleshy yet pointed nose, and above the protruding somewhat sensuous mouth, the under lip of which hung and protruded in the excitement of waiting to listen to the questions put to him. A marvellous contrast to the somewhat slight and small, yet well-knit figure of the plainly dressed, fair-skinned man, who was there to learn what accusations would be brought against him; the man of fair complexion, honest outlooking blue eyes, at once searching and dreamy, as of one who saw, as it were, two worlds at once — of fearless, somewhat abrupt, but friendly and not ungentle speech and bearing. Gordon's was a presence which seldom failed strongly to impress anyone who met him and spoke to him. A Swedish traveller, who was passing through the Soudan while the English pasha was governor-general, gave in a few words a graphic description of him, which well illustrates much that we now know of his peculiar influence: —