Oliver. My lord, there is a lady there who desires to speak with you.
François. I desire to speak with her.
[Oliver enters the palace, and Katherine approaches Villon.]
Katherine. My lord, will you listen to a distressed lady?
François. She does not know me.
Katherine. There is a man in prison at this hour for whom I would implore your clemency. His name is François Villon. Last night he wounded Thibaut d’Aussigny. The penalty is death. But Thibaut was a traitor, sold to Burgundy.
François. Did this Villon fight him for his treason?
Katherine. No! He fought for the sake of a woman.
François. How do you know all this?
Katherine. Because I was the woman. This man had seen me, thought he loved me, sent me verses—.