daily double

the hard way

ACROSS 1 Will find postal order in one’s wallet (7) 5 Uncommon Elgar composition (5) 8 Subordinate in a position lower than Heather (9) 9 Cool enthusiast (3) 10 It’s not fair - to be kept in it? (4) 12 One blow after after another makes great show (5,3) 14 Played with ducks? (6) 15 Decimal used in some tricky calculations (6) 17 Releases radios without charge (4,4) 18 Four main points of information (4) 21 Eggs are dear we hear (3) 22 Businessman involved in real trade (3,6) 24 Research put into new model vending machines (5) 25 Mock the French politician with nothing on (7) DOWN 1 Weighty American writer (5) 2 A punitive measure (3) 3 Feathered, they skim the water (4) 4 Variation in game puzzles people (6) 5 Make a record showing range of singer’s voice (8) 6 Present animal shouldn’t have oral examination (4,5) 7 Involved in a cult that’s crazy (7) 11 Sprinkles salt over a meat dish (5,4) 13 Sam feels different - but isn’t (8) 14 A title indeed much wished for (7) 16 Crazy lament (6) 19 Charming woman evinces alarm (5) 20 A stern guide (4) 23 Sign the French love (3)

the easy way

ACROSS 1 Arrange in proper order (7) 5 Sullen facial expression (5) 8 Full to capacity (3-6) 9 Make severe demands on (3) 10 Ready for harvesting (4) 12 Ideally happy (8) 14 A slight shaking (6) 15 Exuberantly cordial (6) 17 Sobriquet (8) 18 Smile radiantly (4) 21 Enemy (3) 22 An advantageous resource (5,4) 24 Simple door-fastener (5) 25 Completely perplex (7) DOWN 1 Important (5) 2 Spirit distilled from sugar-cane (3) 3 A humorous deception (4) 4 To be reasonably expected (6) 5 Avoid (8) 6 Wrongly aligned (3,2,4) 7 Constancy (7) 11 Showing foresight (9) 13 First-rate (8) 14 Melodious (7) 16 Call in question (6) 19 King with reputed golden touch (5) 20 Extend across (4) 23 The lot (3)