When Publius Junius Calvus is compelled to attend sessions of the Senate, he has ordinarily been informed a couple of days in advance by a _viator_ of one of the consuls bringing a personal notice to his home, although urgent meetings can be summoned on much shorter notice merely by sending forth a crier. There is no fixed quorum for the Senate; although there are 600 lawful members, many of these are high government officials absent in the provinces, others are retired, elderly dignitaries very loath to quit their luxurious ease in their Etruscan or Campanian villas. Since the post of senator is ordinarily for life, the body contains an undue proportion of superannuated, doddering old men who will only appear on great occasions. Sessions can thus be held with only a very thin number, say fifty,[177] although if the gathering is disgracefully small, those attending can shout to the presiding officer, “_Numera! Numera!_” (“Take the number!”) and insist on adjournment until the consul’s tipstaffs and bailiffs have rounded up a respectable fraction. On this day in question, however, there is no danger of a slim attendance. Every member in Rome is sure to be present, including certain invalids who have to be helped out of their litters and led inside by their freedmen. Sextus Annius Pedius, ex-proconsul of Asia has been impeached by Publius Calvus and a fellow senator, Titus Volusius Atilius, for gross extortion and malfeasance in his government. The case has been referred to the Senate by Hadrian as lying within its special competence. Pedius is of the highest aristocracy, but like most great men has made plenty of enemies. Every possible social influence has been mobilized for and against him. A great state trial, with an abundance of soaring oratory is consequently in prospect. Every senator is in his element. =287. The Curia (Senate House) and Its Arrangement of Benches.=--On days when the Senate convenes, the clients can stream into the empty atria of their noble patrons, collect their money doles and depart--the patrons themselves have set off at first dawn for the council, accompanied very probably (if it is not summertime) by link-boys to guide them through the still darkened streets. They gather thus at _prima luce_ in the rebuilt Curia at the Forum, although sessions can be held in almost any other duly consecrated spot, and Pompey built a special Curia near his own mansion in the Campus Martius for use when he wished to deliberate with the Fathers.[178]