But their escape is foiled by Javert's dramatic appearance. His authority reduces them to a flock of sheep. Thénardier alone among the men offers some resistance; he aims a pistol at Javert, but the gun misfires. In bestial fury, his wife hurls a rock at the inspector, who simply ducks. The police put handcuffs on the gang, and the three masked men are identified: they are Gueulemer, Babet, and Claquesous, three of the four bandit chiefs of Paris. His prisoners secured, Javert looks around for the victim, but in the confusion he has vanished. "The devil!" says Javert. "He must have been the best catch of the lot."
The next day, Gavroche goes to see his parents, impertinent and carefree as usual. He finds the door to their apartment closed, and an old lady whom he has just insulted informs him that his whole family is in jail. He greets the news with a casual "Ah!" and with a song on his lips returns to the wintry street.
