D’OSBORN (Count), governor of the Giant’s Mount Fortress.  The countess Marie consented to marry him, because he promised to obtain the acquittal of Ernest de Fridberg, ("the State prisoner"); but he never kept his promise.

It was by this man’s treachery that Ernest was a prisoner, for he kept back the evidence of General Bavois, declaring him innocent.  He next employed persons to strangle him, but his attempt was thwarted.  His villainy being brought to light, he was ordered by the king to execution.—­E.  Stirling, The State Prisoner (1847).

DO’SON, a promise-maker and promise-breaker.  Antig’onos, grandson of Demetrios (the besieger) was so called.

DOT. (See PERRYBINGLE.)

DOTHEBOYS HALL, a Yorkshire school, where boys were taken-in and done-for by Mr. Squeers, an arrogant, conceited, puffing, overbearing and ignorant schoolmaster, who fleeced, beat, and starved the boys, but taught them nothing.—­C.  Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

The original of Dotheboys Hall is still in existence at Bowes, some five miles from Barnard Castle.  The King’s Head inn at Barnard Castle is spoken of in Nicholas Nickleby, by Newman Noggs.—­Notes and Queries, April 2, 1875.

DOTO, NYSE, and NERI’NE, the three nereids who guarded the fleet of Vasco da Gama.  When the treacherous pilot had run the ship in which Vasco was sailing on a sunken rock, these sea nymphs lifted up the prow and turned it round,—­Camoens, Lusiad, ii. (1569).

DOUBAN, the physician, cured a Greek king of leprosy by some drug concealed in a racket handle.  The king gave Douban such great rewards that the envy of his nobles was excited, and his vizier suggested that a man like Douban was very dangerous to be near the throne.  The fears of the weak king being aroused, he ordered Douban to be put to death.  When the physician saw there was no remedy, he gave the king a book, saying, “On the sixth leaf the king will find something affecting his life.”  The king finding the leaves stick, moistened his finger with his mouth, and by so doing poisoned himself.  “Tyrant!” exclaimed Douban, “those who abuse their power merit death.”—­Arabian Nights ("The Greek King and the Physician").

Douban, physician of the emperor Alexius.—­Sir W. Scott, Count Robert of Paris (time Rufus).

DOUBLE DEALER, (The) “The double dealer” is Maskwell, who pretends love to lady Touchwood and friendship to Mellefont (2. syl.), in order to betray them both.  The other characters of the comedy also deal doubly:  Thus Lady Froth pretends to love her husband, but coquets with Mr. Brisk; and Lady Pliant pretends to be chaste as Diana, but has a liaison with Careless.  On the other hand Brisk pretends to entertain friendship for Lord Froth but makes love to his wife; and Ned Careless pretends to respect and honor Lord Pliant, but bamboozles him in a similar way.—­W.  Congreve (1700).