five minutes to two
A vague feeling of shame overcame him at the last moment : he had no wish to be found sprawling upon the floor , dressed only in his night-gown . He lit the gas and put on his bathrobe , drawing the cords securely about his waist and neck . When he turned about to pick up the revolver again he found that his determination had weakened considerably , and he was obliged to reflect again upon the wreck of his life and soul before he was back once more to the proper pitch of resolution . It was five minutes to two , and he made up his mind to kill himself when the clock struck the hour . He spent the intervening moments in arranging the details of the matter . At first he thought he would do it standing , but he abandoned that idea , fearing to strike his head against the furniture as he fell . He was about to decide upon the huge leather chair , when the remembrance of his father 's death made that impossible .