twenty minutes
to four
`` Yes , that will do . '' Corneille commenced to read his comedy , while Madame de Maintenon 's white and delicate fingers picked among the many-coloured silks which she was weaving into her tapestry . From time to time she glanced across , first at the clock and then at the king , who was leaning back , with his lace handkerchief thrown over his face . It was twenty minutes to four now , but she knew that she had put it back half an hour , and that the true time was ten minutes past . `` Tut ! tut ! '' cried the king suddenly .