In a later attempt to mug Valjean he is easily overpowered. After lecturing the thief, Valjean gives him a purse with a little over six napoléons inside, but Gavroche steals it to give to M. Mabeuf, an old horticulturist that was falling into debt. Montparnasse later seeks out Gavroche to help Thénardier escape from prison.
Valjean is subsequently targeted for a robbery by someone he easily overpowers. He then takes the opportunity to teach the thief a lesson and gives him a small sum of money, but Gavroche intercepts it and hands it over to M. Mabeuf, a struggling horticulturist who is in debt. Later, Montparnasse seeks out Gavroche's assistance in helping Thénardier escape from prison.