So the three faithful beasts went back to the castle and found the merchants there.
The mouse looked under the door and said:
"The stone is fastened with a red ribbon under the looking-glass, and beside it are two great cats with eyes of fire."
The bear and the monkey said:
"Wait till the men go to sleep. Then run quickly under the door, jump quickly up on the bed, scratch the nose of one of the men, and bite off one of his whiskers."
The mouse did as he was told.
The merchant woke up and rubbed his nose. Then he said:
"Those cats are good for nothing. They let the mice in, and the mice eat up my very whiskers."
So he drove the cats away.