"Que diable! I feel like the rat in the trap," said Count Edouard,
suppressed excitement rendering his English less fluent.
At another time the phrase would have sent a ripple of amusement
through that cheery company. Now, no one smiled. They knew too well
what he meant to pay heed to the mere form of his words. No matter how
large or sumptuously equipped the trap, the point of view of the rat
was new to them.