It was wonderfully wrought, and differed, as I think Miss Maltravers has already said, from any known example of Stradivarius.

As we watched it, the scroll took form, and we saw what we had never seen before, that it was cut so that the deep lines in a certain light showed as the profile of a man.

It was a wizened little paganish face, with sharp-cut features and a bald head.

As I looked at it I knew at once (and a cameo has since confirmed the fact) that it was a head of Porphyry.

Thus the second label found in the violin was explained and Sir John's view confirmed, that Stradivarius had made the instrument for some Neo-Platonist enthusiast who had dedicated it to his master Porphyrius.
* * * * * A year after Sir John's death I went with Miss Maltravers to Worth church to see a plain slab of slate which we had placed over her brother's grave.