The ass was not, troubled; he was calm, and said there was one way to find out who was in the right, himself or the cat: he would go and look in that hole, and come back and tell what he found there.

The animals felt relieved and grateful, and asked him to go at once--which he did.
But he did not know where he ought to stand; and so, through error, he stood between the picture and the mirror.

The result was that the picture had no chance, and didn't show up.

He returned home and said: "The cat lied.

There was nothing in that hole but an ass.