In which Tony continues his assignment for the self-professed 'Blofeld of Banking,' Sir Fred Godalming.

It was midnight, and Sir Fred seemed agitated when he rose from his crate of earth.

"I can't believe this government," he said. "They thought they were bowing to the weight of public opinion by rescinding my knighthood. But they’re so spectacularly out of touch with public opinion, the very act of rescindment has shifted it in my favour.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” I asked.

“It might be if I cared,” he replied. “You forget that, although I may have no formal banking qualifications of my own, I’ve spent a great deal of time around bankers. And since when do they give a toss about public opinion?”

He had a point. If the bankers ever listened to public opinion, most would be beating themselves with wet fish - the alternative to banker bonuses preferred by the general public.

“But the fact is, Tony,” he continued, “I’m finding all this to be quite a distraction. How can I be expected to expand my evil empire with public opinion behind me? Do you think Blofeld had widespread public sympathy when he was intent on world domination?”

“Well,” I replied, “maybe if you suggest you’d like to be known as the Blofeld of Banking from now on, it might redress the balance.”