Some of the dialogue here is so funny:
“By the way, you new man, have you your card?”
The grave-digger paused.
“What card?”
“The sun is on the point of setting.”
“That’s good, it is going to put on its nightcap.”
I love how Fauchelevent comes up with his own slightly contemptuous way of addressing Gribier as a way of asserting his own authority. Maybe Gribier won’t see him as anything other than “peasant,” but at least he can remind him that he’s “new” and, therefore, knows less about the job than he does. Of course, this is also very effective in making him anxious and doubtful, which serves Fauchelevent’s purpose well. His cleverness is on full display here; he very smoothly uses his seniority to convince Gribier that his advice will save him from that fine (his robbery skills are also impressive).
“It is going to put on its nightcap” is also such a hilarious reaction to being told “the sun is on the point of setting.” It fits so well with Gribier’s literary pretentiousness and with his obliviousness to what Fauchelevent’s saying.
Another wonderful line from Fauchelevent:
“ And you will bury your corpse. I’ll watch it for you in the meantime, so that it shall not run away.”
It’s both funny in that a corpse can’t move and in the ironic aspect of it, with us knowing that the “corpse” is going to leave as soon as Gribier’s gone.
Jean Valjean’s apparent calm is also funny when contrasted with Fauchelevent’s panic (sad as well, but funny). Fauchelevent’s lengthy speech here is what we’ve typically seen from the misérables, signifying both his distress and the fate that Father Madeleine saved him from. Valjean says very little because he’s generally taciturn (not having expressed himself at length since the bishop) and because he’s just experienced a great shock, but the simplicity of his lines (”I fell asleep”) still feels somewhat comical.
The Jean Valjean-Gribier parallels are strengthened with the depiction of his dwelling, reminding us of their similarities (caring for a woman and her children while making very little) and giving us an idea of what exactly Valjean’s early living situation looked like. Gribier’s relationship with his family seems worse, though (with signs that he beat the children; Valjean has been cruel to a child twice - Petit Gervais and one boy on his way to the trial in Arras - but not violent, and while we don’t know a lot about his past, incidents like these tend to spring him out of a moral crisis rather than just being part of his bad moments). Still, I’m glad that Fauchelevent brought the card back to him so he won’t suffer financially and that he seems to trust him because of it. And he offers to pay for drinks! Maybe Gribier will build a social circle and his family will suffer less because of it.
You can also tell that returning it was part of Fauchelevent’s plan because he enters through the door. Valjean would have broken into the house and left the card somewhere to avoid a conversation.
All in all, 10/10 coffin heist, but keeping in mind that grave-diggers are also people who live and die is probably a good idea.