The name's Bond, Gilt Bond

Where are ex-bankers finding gainful employment? In MI6, apparently.

Well, City boys (and girls) are used to high-pressure meetings, foreign travel, using force of argument, fluency in other languages, play with fancy gizmos, understanding budgets, playing roulette with other people's money -- and they get to keep the company Aston Martin.

But I can't imagine playing power politics to create elbow room for a bigger bonus is necessarily a great asset when trying to handle delicate negotiations. Unless, of course, MI6 is less staring gainfully at screens and rather more roughing people up to make them submit to your business terms.

Lunch may now be for civilians as well as for wimps.