The Wrong Kind of Money by Stephen; Birmingham Page A

Hannah and myself until today when, after feeling unwell for several days, I consulted a physician, Dr. Ebert with the American Hospital in Berlin, who advises me that I am in the third month of a pregnancy. It all comes as something of a surprise to me, at my age, but Dr. Ebert assures me that this is a not uncommon occurrence for a woman of my age.
    As you know, I have always had difficult pregnancies, and in light of this, Dr. Ebert strongly recommends that I not attempt an Atlantic crossing at this point, but rather that I remain here in Germany for my full term. Here, of course, are some of the finest physicians and medical facilities in the world.…
    Please do not consider coming abroad to join me, dear Marcus. Such a trip would serve no good purpose, and I would not wish to see you interrupt your academic year on my account. I assure you that I am in the best of hands with Dr. Ebert and his staff.
    Hannah will remain with me here, and I have enrolled her in some classes at the university, where she will be able to improve her German language skills.
    Your loving wife ,
    Sadie
    My dear Marcus,
    Your beautiful baby daughter, weighing 6 lbs 11 oz, was born yesterday at 5:30 p.m., or 11:30 a.m. New York time. She is healthy and nursing lustily, and though I know you were hoping for a boy this time, I know you will fall in love with this little darling when you see her. She has your blue eyes and, it seems to me, your ears. What shall we name her? I am thinking of naming her after your grandmother Sachs.
    As for me, I am doing well, though feeling somewhat tired and weak. Because of this, and because we are approaching the winter stormy season, and because I have never been a “good sailor,” Dr. Ebert recommends that I remain in Berlin for at least another four weeks before attempting an ocean crossing. So I have advised Frau Stockelman that we will keep our little flat for that additional period.
    Hannah joins me in warm greetings .
    Your loving wife ,
    Sadie

3
    Placement
    In another part of the city—on upper Fifth Avenue, to be exact—Mr. and Mrs. Truxton Van Degan IV are sitting in their living room overlooking the Metropolitan Museum. The Van Degans make it a point never to go out on New Year’s Eve—it’s such a cliché—though if you read the social columns you know that these two go out many other evenings, either here, or in Palm Beach, or in Southampton, whichever place they happen to be. Their butler has just brought them a bottle of chilled champagne, and the atmosphere in the room is equally icy. As often happens when Truck and Georgette Van Degan are alone together, they find that they have very little to say to one another. Perhaps the champagne will lift their mood. It hasn’t yet, though Georgette is doing her level best.
    â€œWell, darling,” she says brightly, “are we happy to see 1993 come to an end?” She lifts her glass and tries to smile her most radiant smile. It’s the smile she does for Women’s Wear.
    â€œDamn right,” he says. “It’s been a shitty year. I told you Bill Clinton would be bad for business. He sure the hell has been.”
    â€œWell, here’s to a better 1994,” she says.
    â€œYeah.” He sits hunched forward in his chair, his glass cradled between two hands, not raising it in response.
    She pretends to ignore this. “Patsy Collingwood called this morning,” she says. “She’s having a little dinner Thursday for William Luckman.”
    â€œWho’s he?”
    â€œThe young man who’s written that new book about all the nasty things that go on at Yale. Or it’s supposed to be Yale. Desire Under the Elms, I think it’s called.”
    â€œNo, that’s not it. That’s the title of some other book.”
    â€œIt’s something like that. Anyway, I told her we had the thing at the Pierre on Thursday.”
    â€œOh, yeah. That thing at the