"O'Brien's manner became less severe. He resettled his spectacles thoughtfully, and took a pace or two up and down. When he spoke, his voice was gentle and patient." page 245
This scene occurs when O'Brien questions Winston for the first time, immediately following the first shock of pain that Winston feels. O'Brien seems to be playing the good-cop-bad-cop routine, except he's the only one playing. Throughout the novel, at least up to the point when Winston and Julia are caught, O'Brien seems to be on Winston's side. When Winston and Julia go to his home, O'Brien appears to be some sort of guardian. In the interrogation room, he switches between that O'Brien and the O'Brien who inflicts pain upon Winston and nearly exposes his face to hungry rats. Winston informs the reader directly of this and also of O'Brien's intelligence. Even without Winston's description of O'Brien's intelligence, though, the reader can see how truly smart he is. No dumb or moderately intelligent individual could switch so easily between appearing to be Winston's friend and inflicting pain upon him with machines.
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