I threw a glance forward to the quarter whence the rays seemed to proceed, and beheld, at a considerable distance, Welbeck in the cell which I had left, turning up the earth with a spade.
After a pause of astonishment, the nature of the error which I had committed rushed upon my apprehension.

I now perceived that the darkness had misled me to a different staircase from that which I had originally descended.

It was apparent that Welbeck intended me no evil, but had really gone in search of the instrument which he had mentioned.
This discovery overwhelmed me with contrition and shame, though it freed me from the terrors of imprisonment and accusation.

To return to the cell which I had left, and where Welbeck was employed in his disastrous office, was the expedient which regard to my own safety unavoidably suggested.
Welbeck paused, at my approach, and betrayed a momentary consternation at the sight of my ensanguined visage.

The blood, by some inexplicable process of nature, perhaps by the counteracting influence of fear, had quickly ceased to flow.