“Tell me, is it possible to love someone who is not as smart as you are?” in a belligerent morphine rush, wanted the mood of argument. “This is something that has concerned me most of my sexual life—which began late, I must announce to this select company. In the same way the sexual pleasure of conversation came to me only after I was married. I had never thought words erotic. Sometimes I really do like to talk more than fuck. The trouble with words is that you can really talk yourself into a corner. Whereas you can’t fuck yourself into a corner.” “That’s a man talking,” muttered Hana. 

“Well, I haven’t,” Caravaggio continued, “maybe you have

 How old are you, Kip?” 

“Twenty-six.” 

“Older than Hana. Could you fall in love with her if she wasn’t smarter than you?