In  the  course  of  three  years  ambition  had  altered  CreveFs
pretensions.  Like  all  great  artists,  he  had  come  to  hisi
second  manner.  In  the  great  world,  when  he  went  to  the
Prince  de  Wissembourg's,  to  the  Prefecture,  to  Comte
Popinot's,  and  the  like,  he  held  his  hat  in  his  hand  in  an  airy
manner  taught  him  by  Valerie,  and  he  inserted  the  thumb  of


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the  other  hand  in  the  armhole  of  his  waistcoat  with  a  know-
ing air,  and  a  simpering  face  and  expression.  This  new
grace  of  attitude  was  due  to  the  satirical  inventiveness  of
Valerie,  who,  under  pretence  of  rejuvenating  her  mayor,  had
given  him  an  added  touch  of  the  ridiculous.
