A Fox Was Being Chased by Hunters

The fable is aimed at men who make public profession of virtue, but behave like rogues. A fox was being chased by huntsmen and begged a woodcutter to hide him. The man told him to go into his hut. Soon afterwards, the huntsman arrived and asked if he had seen a fox pass that way. But as he spoke, he jerked a thumb towards the place where the fox was hidden. However, they believed his statement and did not take the hint. When the fox saw they had gone, he came out and made off without speaking. That's an idiom - actions speak louder than words.