Saturday market. She was a stronger craft than any of
the largest coasting sloops in all the Archipelago, and her capacity
being in proportion to her dimensions, one of her voyages was equal to
four voyages of an ordinary boat in the same trade; hence they were very
profitable. The reputation of a vessel depends on its stowage, and
Lethierry was an admirable stower of cargo. When he was no longer able
to work himself, he trained up a sailor to undertake this duty. At the
end of two years, the steamboat brought in a clear seven hundred and
fifty pounds sterling a year, or eighteen thousand francs. The pound
sterling of Guernsey is worth twenty-four francs only, that of England
twenty-five, and that of Jersey twenty-six. These differences are less
unimportant than they seem: the banks, at all events, know how to turn
them to advantage.

VI

LETHIERRY'S EXALTATION

The "Devil Boat" prospered. Mess Lethierry began to look forward to the
time when he should be called "Monsieur." At Guernsey, people do not
become "Monsieurs" at one bound. Between the plain man and the
gentleman, there is quite a scale to climb. To begin with, we have the
simple name, plain "Peter," let us suppose; the second step is
"Neighbour Peter;" the third, "Father Peter;" the fourth, "Sieur Peter;"
the fifth, "Mess Peter;" and then we reach the summit in "Monsieur
Peter."

This scale ascending thus from the ground is carried to still greater
heights. All the upper classes of England join on and continue it. Here
are the various steps, becoming more and more glorious. Above the
Monsieur, or "Mr.," there is the "Esquire;" above the squire, the
knight; above the knight, still rising, we have the baronet, the Scotch
laird, the baron, the viscount, the earl (called count in France, and
jarl in Norway); the marquis, the duke, the prince of the blood royal,
and the king: so, by degrees, we ascend from the people to the middle
class, from the middle class to the baronetage, from the baronetage to
the peerage, from the peerage to royalty.

Thanks to his successful ingenuity, thanks to steam, and his engines,
and the "Devil Boat," Mess Lethierry was fast becoming an important
personage. When building his vessel he had been compelled to borrow
money. He had become indebted at Breme, he had become indebted at St.
Malo; but every year he diminished his obligations.

He had, moreover, purchased on credit, at the very entrance to the port
of St. Samps