four minutes to five
The officer with the chipped nose went over to borrow the watch of General Feraud . They bent their heads over them for a time . `` That 's it . At four minutes to five by yours . Seven to , by mine . '' It was the cuirassier who remained by the side of General D'Hubert , keeping his one eye fixed immovably on the white face of the watch he held in the palm of his hand . He opened his mouth wide , waiting for the beat of the last second , long before he snapped out the word : `` _ Avancez !