The Lost Stradivarius
While practicing his violin at Oxford, John Maltravers notices a strange phenomenon: whenever a certain tune is played a mysterious presence seems to enter the room. Maltravers becomes increasingly unsettled, until he makes a startling discovery – tucked away in a hidden cupboard is a priceless Stradivarius! Obsessed with this treasure, he becomes increasingly withdrawn, unaware of the sinister hold this perfect violin is beginning to take over him.
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ion of the opening notes which affects the wicker-work, and we shall see if the noise is repeated." But Mr. Gaskell excused himself from trying the experiment, and after some desultory conversation, to which it was evident that neither was giving any serious attention, he took his leave and returned to New College.
CHAPTER II
I shall not weary you, my dear Edward, by recounting similar experiences which occurred on nearly every occasion that the young men met in the evenings for music. The repetition of the phenomenon had accustomed them to expect it. Both professed to be quite satisfied that it was to be attributed to acoustical affinities of vibration between the wicker-work and certain of the piano wires, and indeed this seemed the only explanation possible. But, at the same time, the resemblance of the noises to those caused by a person sitting down in or rising from a chair was so marked, that even their frequent recurrence never
