18 5 fusil à aiguille: 'needle gun,' invented in 1836, and used in the Prussian army in 1841 The cartridge in this gun is exploded by a slender needle, or pin, which is driven into it.
18 11 foire de Beaucaire: cf. 13 28 The Beaucaire fair (July 1-28), instituted in the Middle Ages, is still famous but has in recent years lost much of its importance.
18 13 place du château: the square in front of the castle.
18 14 un tas de: 'a large number of', lit 'a pile of'.
18 16 de mémoire d'homme: 'within the memory of man', Latin hominum Memoria.
18 17 s'était vue: 'had been seen', cf. note to 5 23--comme: connect with fièrement in translation.
18 24 entre ses mains: 'in his hands'.
18 25 à deux pas: 'only a step or two away', cf. à dix mille lieues de Tarascon (2 2) 'ten thousand leagues away from Tarascon,' à combien de pas (24 8) 'how many paces away'.
18 27 premier sujet: 'star,' in the company of players.