Between these two a close intimacy sprang up, one of those partnerships, beginning with mutual deception, which are so common in the border-land of enterprise just skirting the criminal courts.

Polkenhorne resided at this time in Kennington; he was married--or said that he was--to a young lady in the theatrical profession, known to the public as Miss Grace Danver.

To Mrs.
Polkenhorne, or Miss Danver, Joseph soon had the honour of being presented, for she was just then playing at a London theatre; he found her a pretty but consumptive-looking girl, not at all likely to achieve great successes, earning enough, however, to support Mr.Polkenhorne during this time of his misfortunes--a most pleasant and natural arrangement.
Polkenhorne's acquaintances were numerous, but, as he informed Joseph, most of them were 'played out,' that is to say, no further use could be made of them from Polkenhorne's point of view.

One, however, as yet imperfectly known, promised to be useful, perchance as a victim, more probably as an ally; his name was Scawthorne, and Polkenhorne had come across him in consequence of a friendship existing between Grace Danver and Mrs.Scawthorne--at all events, a young lady thus known--who was preparing herself for the stage.

This gentleman was 'something in the City;' he had rather a close look, but proved genial enough, and was very ready to discuss things in general with Mr.Polkenhorne and his capitalist friend Mr.Camden, just from the United States.
A word or two about Charles Henry Scawthorne, of the circumstances which made him what you know, or what you conjecture.