If you know you are on a similar intellectual level, have an intelligent conversation, and even challenge his ideas - I'm sure he would admire that (although not all the time lol). I would also listen and appreciate what he says, particularly if it's intellectual - he may not have many other people he considers to be on 'his level', so try to get on it (you don't have to have to cite some criticism of 18th century poetry, just engage with what he says). E.g. you say he speaks french - if you can't speak french back to him, then perhaps ask why it interests him, when somebody asked me this (because I speak french as well) I admired it because it gave me the opportunity to voice my opinion on one of my passions. If he's 'traditional', perhaps he likes very 'feminine' women, so you can act feminine and coy around him.