Segundus and Honeyfoot run into Jonathan Strange during a visit to the Shadow House, the home of Gregory Absalom and his daughter Maria—the last magicians in England; most people discount Maria because she is a woman. Segundus, Honeyfoot, and Strange bond instantly. Honeyfoot encourages Strange to seek out Norrell, who will surely help Strange learn how to do magic. In the old days, one would become an apprentice to a magician. After the meeting, Segundus begins to feel uneasy because he knows Norrell tends to seek the destruction of any other magicians he encounters. In a footnote, the narrator describes the story of how magic first came to England.

Jonathan Strange arrives in London with Arabella, now his wife, and the new gentleman-magician is the talk of the town. Drawlight and Lascelles have already heard of him, and they talk about him insultingly in front of Norrell because they fear that Strange will interfere with their influence over Norrell. The first meeting between the two magicians goes poorly because Norrell feels threatened and finds Strange arrogant, while Strange finds Norrell to be both arrogant and selfish, due to Norrell’s hoarding of magic