Granted, the fact alone that he was a teenager was more than enough to warrant a desultory manner.

Nevertheless, their battles were fought in a haphazard and desultory manner.

The artist, in a desultory manner, had imparted to Phoebe something of his history.

After that I went and sat with the subaltern at the mouth of the tent, gossiping in a desultory manner.

They talked in the soft desultory manner of old friends in perfect accord.

Mr. Hogan, at first, has a desultory manner of just reciting lines.

And so they ate, concentrating on the small portions of food, talking in a desultory manner.

"in a desultory manner", or "by the command of the officers" is unclear.

We went on looking at shops in a desultory manner, but all her pleasure in the walk was gone.

Between the mouthfuls he talked in a desultory manner about the war.