Since we are wondering about rats and Pale Fire, we must remember that
"The Nutcracker" cracks a specific nut, a Hazel nut...( in French they
speak of "Casse Noisette", I don´t know how it is named in Russian). In
the text we find lascivious uncles holding little girls in thrall and
there are rats... lots of soldier and even a Rat King ( not a Bishop,
though).
Jansy