The New York Times reports that some folks are suggesting that ex-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson (previously CEO of Goldman Sachs) may have had a conflict of interest when he made and received several calls to / from current Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein during the dark days for the financial markets last September.

And those who believe that Goldman Sachs runs the US government (and, indeed, that Elvis is alive and well, holed up in the basement at Gracelands) will doubtless latch on to these conversations as further proof that a mass conspiracy is at work to enrich Goldman at the expense of everyone else.

Other, more sane folks among us, will not find it strange that Paulson talked with the head of a systemically important firm at the time of national crisis. We will not be put out that the former Treasury Secretary was seeking reassurances about Goldman's health, or that he was sounding out Blankfein about a possible takeover of Morgan Stanley and discussing other acquisitions that may have become necessary.

Paulson sold all his Goldman stock when he became Treasury Secretary, and he even obtained waivers from his department to speak to officials at his previous firm. Bernard Knight Jr, an assistant general counsel at Treasury, informed Paulson: 'I have determined that the magnitude of the government's interest in your participation in matters that might affect or involve Goldman Sachs clearly outweighs the concern that your participation may cause a reasonable person to question the integrity of the government's programs and operations'. Enough said.

In the meantime, The Financial Times reports that Societe Generale executive Jean-Pierre Mustier may have got himself in hot water just because he acted on a report in the newspaper. The FT says that Mustier clocked something in the newspaper while on holiday in August 2007 that made him authorise his broker to sell half his stock in SG, and ditch the rest of his share portfolio. Those actions are now said to be at the centre of an insider dealing probe launched by the AMF, the French financial market regulator.

And The Mail-on-Sunday reports that Fred Goodwin, the former CEO of Royal Bank of Scotland, is to return from his self-imposed 'exile' in France (where he has spent the last few months), because his is worried about his children's education. Protesters, leave those kids alone.

Bloomberg reports that Frank DiPascali, the CFO of Bernie Madoff's investment advisory business, is expected to be charged this week for his alleged role in Bernie Ponzi scheme. The smart money thinks that he will plead guilty, and then sing like a canary.

Finally, The New York Post reports that, according to Robb Evans, described by the newspaper as a 'veteran court-appointed receiver', has said that Bernie's victims may be in for a 15-year wait before this complex case is settled. Not good news for many of the elderly folks he conned.

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