He was gaining every day.
Luck.

He might have come out of it with the blank mind of a newborn babe; and here he was, keen to resume his adventures.Luck.They had not stopped to see if he was actually dead.

Some passer-by in the hall had probably alarmed them.

That handkerchief had carried him round the brink.

Perhaps Fate intended letting him get through--written on his pass an extension of his leave of absence.