Mangiafuoco is first encountered in chapter X, after Pinocchio ruins one of his puppet shows by distracting the other puppets with his presence. In his rage, he demands that Pinocchio be burned as firewood for his roasting mutton. Pinocchio pleads for his life, causing Mangiafuoco to sneeze. Moved by Pinocchio's lamentations, Mangiafuoco decides instead to burn one of his own puppets, Harlequin, instead. Pinocchio throws himself on his knees and begs for Harlequin's life, appealing to Mangiafuoco by calling him "sir", "knight", "commander" and finally "excellence", to which Mangiafuoco listens. Pinocchio offers to sacrifice himself in Harlequins stead, but is refused by Mangiafuoco, who decides to eat his mutton half raw. He asks Pinocchio on his creator, Mister Geppetto's financial positi