I essayed one or two general reflections to which she responded absently, and in a very few minutes Poirot rejoined us.

"People-shoes, of course," one of them responded absently, then trotted off to pick up his collection.

"Biggest herd I'd ever seen," he responded absently.

"Birds of a feather," the other squad leader responded absently.

Marco responded absently; he was doing Mama's accounts, and there'd been a lot of business today.

"Of course," Riker responded absently, without listening.

"I doubt it, lad," the Artisan responded absently.

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead and take it," he responded absently.

He responded absently, never taking his eyes from the dragon.

"Quite right," the banker responded absently as he hammered busily on the keys.