The old man informed him that Pentaur had returned, and he followed his superior to the released prisoners, who, prepared for the worst, and expecting severe punishment, nevertheless shook with laughter when Rameri suggested that, if by chance they were condemned to kneel upon peas, they should get them cooked first.
"It will be long asparagus [Asparagus was known to the Egyptians.

Pliny says they held in their mouths, as a remedy for toothache, wine in which asparagus had been cooked.] -- not peas," said another looking over his shoulder, and pretending to be flogging.

They all shouted again with laughter, but it was hushed as soon as they heard Ameni's well-known footstep.
Each feared the worst, and when the high-priest stood before them even Rameri's mirth was quite quelled, for though Ameni looked neither angry nor threatening, his appearance commanded respect, and each one recognized in him a judge against whose verdict no remonstrance was to be thought of.
To their infinite astonishment Ameni spoke kindly to the thoughtless boys, praised the motive of their action--their attachment to a highly-endowed teacher--but then clearly and deliberately laid before them the folly of the means they had employed to attain their end, and at what a cost.

"Only think," he continued, turning to the prince, "if your father sent a general, who he thought would be better in a different place, from Syria to Kusch, and his troops therefore all went over to the enemy! How would you like that ?" So for some minutes he continued to blame and warn them, and he ended his speech by promising, in consideration of the great miracle that gave that day a special sanctity, to exercise unwonted clemency.

For the sake of example, he said, he could not let them pass altogether unpunished, and he now asked them which of them had been the instigator of the deed; he and he only should suffer punishment.
He had hardly clone speaking, when prince Rameri stepped forward, and said modestly: "We acknowledge, holy father, that we have played a foolish trick; and I lament it doubly because I devised it, and made the others follow me.
I love Pentaur, and next to thee there is no one like him in the sanctuary." Ameni's countenance grew dark, and he answered with displeasure: "No judgment is allowed to pupils as to their teachers--nor to you.