My dear Fox

Will you read the enclosed & return it me soon— All those, whom I have asked think that D^r L. is probably innocent.—¹ M^r Thom’s (a very sensible nice young man) evidence;² the admitted coldness of D^r. Lane’s letters,—³ the absence of all corroborative evidence—& more than all the unparalleled fact of a woman detailing her own adultery, which seems to me more improbable than inventing a story prompted by extreme sensuality or hallucination,—altogether make me think D^r. Lane innocent & that it is a most cruel case.—⁴ I fear it will ruin him. I never heard a sensual expression from him.—

I am writing this under much hurry, (but I will not miss a post) as poor dear Etty has been most seriously ill with an attack very like Diptheria; but thank God after much suffering is recovering; but last night our Baby commenced with Fever of some kind.⁵

Yours affectionately | C. Darwin