two o'clock
`` And you were waiting for the king ? '' `` Ever since half-past one ; for it would have been a fine thing indeed to have been unpunctual with his majesty . '' Malicorne , notwithstanding his respect for Saint-Aignan , could not resist shrugging his shoulders . `` And the painter , '' he said , `` did the king wish him to be here at two o'clock also ? '' `` No ; but I had him waiting here from mid-day . Far better , you know , for a painter to be kept waiting a couple of hours than the king a single minute . '' Malicorne began to laugh to himself .