messages in mutt: \225 etc

["Monique Y. Herman" <spam@bounceswoosh.org>]

I have a feeling that I should know this, but I don't, and I'm not quite
sure how to google for the answer.  Any insight would be greatly
appreciated.

I occasionally view a message I've received in mutt and see the following:

\225We have new reversible jerseys.

(The \225 being of note, not the reversible jerseys.)

What is this, and how can I view it properly?

Details that may be relevant:

At least in one message's case, 'v' in mutt shows the content as
text/plain, 7bit, us-ascii 

I'm using mutt through screen.

It appears that screen sets TERMCAP; I don't know if that's relevant.

-- 
monique