And what stimuli must it take, to compromise your reasoning? [He'll admit to his fascination, as unapologetic as it was. Raw as such curiosity might come across, his sentiment is nevertheless sincere; Chilton would not bear his usual patronizing smirk for someone like Hannibal Lecter. Bearing in mind that his sense of propriety was leagues beneath Hannibal's own, Chilton was still a man to keep kind to those he considered peers.

The problem was, of course, finding people he saw as equals.

This single stand of moral fiber caught up with him, as he realized the imprudence of his query.

He caught himself with a staccato clearing of his throat.]

Not that I'm expecting -- I mean, rather, why don't we call it a rhetorical question? Forgive my trespass, Hannibal, I just find it unbelievable to consider your reasoning ever compromised. And then my natural inquisitive nature kicks in, how it rules me.

[His measure of apology.]