six in the
morning
At that moment Hans re-entered the room and beckoned to her . ` I have heard that Herr Racksole has returned to the hotel , ' he whispered , ` and that he has captured that man Jules , who they say is such a villain . ' Several times during the night Nella inquired for her father , but could gain no knowledge of his whereabouts . Now , at half-past six in the morning , a rumour had mysteriously spread among the servants of the hotel about the happenings of the night before . How it had originated no one could have determined , but it had originated . ` Where is my father ? ' Nella asked of Hans .