In relation to the opening line of the novel ("It was a pleasure to burn"), the next three paragraphs serve to clarify to the reader what was being burnt by the character "While the books went up in sparkling whirls..." and describe in depth his pleasure while burning books, as the author mentions: "the blood pounded in his head and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor..." or when saying: "...He would feel the fiery smile still gripped by his ace muscles in the dark".