a few minutes before nine o'clock
There was just one positive element that included all : time seemed to mean nothing , the ticks of the clock with the painted face were scarcely consecutive ; it was all one , and distance was nothing , nor nearness -- not even the nearness of the dying face against the pillows ... * * * * * It was so , then , that something of that state to which Frank had passed communicated itself to at least one of those who saw him die . A little past the half hour Frank spoke again . `` My love to Whitty , '' he said ... `` Diary ... . Tell him ... '' * * * * * The end came a few minutes before nine o'clock , and it seems to have come as naturally as life itself . There was no drama , no dying speech , not one word . Those who were there saw him move ever so slightly in bed , and his head lifted a little . Then his head sank once more and the Failure was complete .