Premise: It was rather inexplicable, but I supposed that, for some reason or other, Japp wished to keep it out of the papers.

Hypothesis: Since it did not appear in any of the newspapers I read, I assumed Japp was keeping the information back.
Answer: yes

Premise: and there isn't really a lot of TV watching

Hypothesis: There is not a bunch of TV watching.
Answer: yes

Premise: I guess you're lucky to be here at all.

Hypothesis: You were so close to death.
Answer: it is not possible to tell

Premise: And with those four stigmatic words, the music business was born.

Hypothesis: The music business was born by four words.
Answer: yes