# IX explained — The Lost Stradivarius > Chapter companion for The Lost Stradivarius by John Meade Falkner. ## What happens John Maltravers recovers from his illness at Royston, becomes engaged to Constance Temple, and returns to Oxford for his final term. He keeps the Stradivarius violin a secret, playing it alone, and on the last night of term, he and Mr. Gaskell reconcile but part ways after John refuses to play the 'Areopagita' together. ## Themes in this chapter ### Music as a Dangerous Force John's secretive playing of the Stradivarius and his refusal to share it with Gaskell highlight the isolating and possessive nature of music. ### Obsession and Possession John's secretive attachment to the violin and his reluctance to reveal its existence reflect his growing obsession. ### The Power of the Past The memory of Adrian Temple and the events of the previous year continue to haunt John, influencing his actions. ## Character check-ins ### John Maltravers Recovers from illness, becomes engaged, and plays the Stradivarius in secret, refusing to share it with Gaskell. ### Constance Temple Nurses John during his convalescence and becomes formally betrothed to him. ### Mr. Gaskell Attempts to renew friendship with John, hears the violin, and is hurt by John's refusal to play together. ### Sophia Maltravers Narrates the chapter, observes John's recovery, and studies the portrait of Adrian Temple. ### Mrs. Temple Nurses John tenderly during his illness. ## Key lines > He had allowed a young German virtuoso to play on it, and though this gentleman was one of the first living performers, and had had an opportunity of handling many splendid instruments, he assured Mr. Smart that he had never performed on one that could in any way compare with this. A top German musician tried the violin and told Mr. Smart it was the best he'd ever played. _High praise for the Stradivarius._ > The sound issued from it in a volume of such depth and purity as to give an impression of the passages being chorded, or even of another violin being played at the same time. The violin's tone was so rich it sounded like two violins playing at once. _The violin's extraordinary sound._ > It was just at its close that he heard someone knocking at the outer door. He hurriedly locked away the violin and opened the “oak.” Right after finishing, someone knocked, and he quickly hid the violin before answering. _John's secrecy about the violin._ > As I came along I was spellbound by your music. I never before heard you bring from the instrument so exquisite a tone: the chorded passages were so powerful that I believed there had been another person playing with you. Gaskell was captivated by John's playing and thought there must have been a second violin. _Gaskell notices the violin's extraordinary sound._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lost_stradivarius_se/chapters/ix - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lost_stradivarius_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lost_stradivarius_se/chapters