This superb exchange between Bond and Fiona Volpe almost elevates her to the status of Thunderball‘s principal antagonist.  Although she serves SPECTRE under Emilio Largo and isn’t among its numbered elite, the power of her presence often suggests otherwise.

But when Bond discusses her SPECTRE ring with the line above and counters her barbed remarks with his cool “for King and country” justification for their night together, she momentarily falters.  For a character typically defined by her composure, a brief stutter (along with the slight slip in her English) reveals that Bond has struck a genuinely sensitive nerve.

Overall, her air of superiority and ruthlessness also explains why she is considered by some (myself included) as the top female Bond villain.  If a future Bond movie ever wanted to choose another female lead villain, look no further than Volpe as an excellent template!