“And what is it you do, Mocquet, when you want to catch this animal of yours?” asked my father.
“I set a trarp , General.” Mocquet always called a trap a trarp.
“Do you mean to tell me you have set a trap to catch Mother Durand?”
My father had of course said trap ; but Mocquet did not like anyone to pronounce words differently from himself, so he went on:
“Just so, General; I have set a trarp for Mother Durand.”
“And where have you put your trarp ? Outside your door?”
My father, you see, was willing to make concessions.
“Outside my door! Much good that would be! I only know she gets into my room, but I cannot even guess which way she comes.”
“Down the chimney, perhaps?”
“There is no chimney, and besides, I never see her until I feel her.”
“And you do see her, then?”
“As plainly I see you, General.”
“And what does she do?”
“Nothing agreeable, you may be sure; she tramples all over my chest: thud, thud! thump, thump!”
“Well, where have you set your trap, then?”