Gabinius, the other Consul, had already declared his purpose to the Senate, but Piso was bound to him by family ties.

He himself relates to us in his oration, spoken after his return, against this Piso, the manner of the meeting between him and Rome's chief officer.

Piso told him--so at least Cicero declared in the Senate, and we have heard of no contradiction--that Gabinius was so driven by debts as to be unable to hold up his head without a rich province; that he himself, Piso, could only hope to get a province by taking part with Gabinius; that any application to the Consuls was useless, and that every one must look after himself.[278] Concerning his appeal to Pompey two stories have been given to us, neither of which appears to be true.
Plutarch says that when Cicero had travelled out from Rome to Pompey's Alban villa, Pompey ran out of the back-door to avoid meeting him.
Plutarch cared more for a good story than for accuracy, and is not worthy of much credit as to details unless when corroborated.

The other account is based on Cicero's assertion that he did see Pompey on this occasion.

Nine or ten years after the meeting he refers to it in a letter to Atticus, which leaves no doubt as to the fact.