Louis has more than a passing familiarity with being in a cage. But he reminds himself that these people's situation is nothing like his was. And now, he's the one in power. He can't afford to lose that advantage, what precious few advantages his has at the moment.

"Interesting." That the mage's magic found this maybe-human to be insufficiently obedient implies that it found Louis to be obedient. Louis is rarely if ever obedient for the sake of it; that implies that either the magic is flawed, or Louis will find a good reason to play along with the old man's whims. "Do you think you're insufficiently obedient?"