Oh, I know Gavroche is clever; that did not figure into it, at all. Unless you are saying he was a match for all three of you?

[It had seemed like a terribly good idea at the time, anyway, and he'd been caught up in the moment. Evidently disproportionately so, judging from Javert's reaction.]

I suppose he is an acquaintance; we met over dinner when he had only just arrived, and I told him I would give him a ride sometime. [Pause. It stands to reason that Javert would know the boy, too, if they were all at the barricades, but--] And how do you know him, M. Javert?