My dear Sir

I have just heard thro’ Mrs Scott¹ that you are in London.— If you could spare the time we should be delighted to see you & Madame Retzius² here   Owing to my state of health I am compelled to be careful in not conversing long with any one.

Would it be worth your while to give us the pleasure of seeing you to luncheon tomorrow or Saturday? If so, your best plan would be to leave Charing Cross Station by the 11.25 train, stopping at Orpington St. (which is 4 miles from my house) where you will find a fly.

A return train leaves Orpington at 2.50. This will give us nearly an hour & half of your society, which is a very short time but it is as much as my strength will allow—

I remain my dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin

Mrs Darwin presents her compliments to M^me Retzius & hopes to have the pleasure of seeing her with you—

P.S. I have just found out that we must send a visitor now staying here to the Train at 2^o50^′ on Saturday; so that if you come on that day, pray do not take a fly for the return journey, as you can return in my carriage.³

In Haste to catch the Post. | C.D.