one o'clock in the morning
murmured Mr. Vermont inquiringly . `` Yes , sir ; and from what I heard , I believe Mr. Leroy lost . '' `` Ah , '' commented the other softly , `` I fear Mr. Leroy always does lose , does n't he ? '' `` He 's made me lose my time to-day with his fads and fancies , '' grumbled Norgate , removing the folding card-table ; `` what with bringing in street wenches at one o'clock in the morning ; and they must n't be disturbed , if you please . '' Jasper Vermont was instantly on the alert . He was not above encouraging a servant to gossip , and , although Norgate was not given to err in this direction as a rule , upon the present occasion his grievance got the better of him , and Vermont was soon in possession of such slight facts as could be gleaned . Johann Wilfer , Jessica 's adopted father , was German by birth , and the son of an innkeeper in one of the tiny villages on the banks of the Rhine .