five minutes to three
Still I said nothing . `` Well , it shall not rest where it is , '' she added , tapping the banister with her yellow fingers . `` I shall inform the Countess . '' It was five minutes to three when I re-entered the schoolroom . The master , as though oblivious of my presence or absence , was explaining the new lesson to Woloda . When he had finished doing this , and had put his books together -LRB- while Woloda went into the other room to fetch his ticket -RRB- , the comforting idea occurred to me that perhaps the whole thing was over now , and that the master had forgotten me . But suddenly he turned in my direction with a malicious smile , and said as he rubbed his hands anew , `` I hope you have learnt your lesson ? ''