The Paternoster Square Two have met at last. We don’t know where or when, except that it was yesterday and Robert “Call Me Bob” Greifeld, head of Nasdaq, was a perfect gentleman.

One suspects Clara Furse knows that when an American capitalist is a perfect gentleman, it hides a very cool cookie deep down. Greifeld has played his hand well, risking junk status for Nasdaq, but diverting the New York Stock Exchange’s thrust away from the LSE to Euronext, and Clara’s flirting with John Thain and the Big Board to a wan, distant smile.

It seems that Bob didn’t ask Clara for a seat on the board or even spring hints of a hostile bid. Instead he listened to a presentation on the wonders of an independent London exchange.

According to Alex Brummer of the Daily Mail, Clara Furse has even dipped into the market herself, purchasing 30,000 LSE shares at £10.71 ($20.03) in the last week. The LSE chief has also converted 11,000 stock options at an exercise price of £2.52 ($4.80).

Clearly, it’s too early for a first kiss, but did they hold hands under the table?