eighteen minutes past eleven
`` You wo n't want any telling , '' said Mr. Prohack , who knew too well the riving , rending , smashing sound of the terrible bells . `` It 's a pretty long seventy seconds , '' observed Sir Paul . `` My watch must be fast , '' said Mr. Prohack , perturbed . But at eighteen minutes past eleven the clock had audibly struck neither the hour nor the quarter . Sir Paul was a man of tact . He said simply : `` I should like a drink , dear old boy . '' '' _ The clock 's not striking _ , '' said Mr. Prohack , with solemn joy , as the wonderful truth presented itself to him .