Oh, fiddlesticks. His slate is tucked away inside his kimono, and not even turned on for that matter. Think fast, Patches!

"Oh! Well, you see..." His grin freezes for a split second before an idea comes to him. "I-I was actually talking to my moogle buddy! I thought he was standing right here the whole time. Guess he must have run off somewhere while I wasn't looking!"

Nailed it. Now he just has to hope Yotaro won't suddenly come back with the drink Uendo had asked him to get and mess up that excuse.