87 7 au détail: 'piecemeal'; cf. vendre en (au) détail 'to sell at retail'; en gros 'wholesale.'
87 10 y passèrent: 'went by the same road'; i.e., were sold.
87 12 cochinchinoises: 'from Cochin China,' a part of Indo-China, at the south of the Siam peninsula, a French colony since its conquest in 1859-1867.
87 16 ce qu'il advint de: 'what became of.' Advenir is used only impersonally.
87 19 payer la diligence: 'pay for (his place in) the stage coach.'
87 21 d'un placement difficile: 'hard to dispose of.'
87 25 sur: the definitive edition also prints sur here; sous would seem to be the correct reading, cf. 66 13. It is possible that the reference here is to figures worked into the pavement.
87 28 par (oftener à) petites journées: 'by short stages.' Journée = a day's march,' the original meaning of Engl. journey.
87 30 s'était ... inexplicable: 'had conceived an inexplicable fancy for his master.' Se prendre d'amitié pour quelqu'un = 'to take a liking; to a person.'