I beg your pardon. A man's voice beside her made her start and turn.
She was startled by the man and turned when he said I beg your pardon.
She was expecting the man next to her to speak and wasn't surprised when he did.
The world is more technical that I thought.
People are consuming alcohol.
A man sits in a tavern with a flamingo in his lap
I answered without thought and said something like "I'm assuming you have more refined taste-buds?"
They could absolutely trust each other.
The men work by the road.