Daily double

the hard way ACROSS

1 Soldiers ordered to hold oil installation (7) 5 He gave people the law and doctors directions (5) 8 Quietly go back to book for earlier instance (9) 9 An expert gives unbeatable service (3) 10 Become stiff (4) 12 Start playing up after industrial action (6,2) 14 Share it with Nora perhaps (6) 15 Exchange of charity? (6) 17 Mother has to think deeply about a perfume holder (8) 18 A Roman emperor in a manner of speaking (4) 21 I write a note and leave (3) 22 Recovering but need month off (2,3,4) 24 Exhausted writer found in the street (5) 25 A roll containing nothing but chicken (7)

DOWN

1 Creature given double support (5) 2 Rage that is inwardly right (3) 3 A chance to offer support (4) 4 They happen to upset Steven (6) 5 Lacking a real foundation? (8) 6 Dramatic alias (5,4) 7 It offers the rest of the journey by night (7) 11 Off the cuff so to speak (9) 13 Indicate that the score is not quite accurate (5,3) 14 Put down to do more evening work? (7) 16 He needs to settle (6) 19 Direct a sequence (5) 20 Sign put up by Verne’s captain (4) 23 Amphibian left without its head (3)

the easy way ACROSS

1 Merely to attract notice (3,4) 5 Quiet in colour (5) 8 Enterprise with unseen hazards (9) 9 Piece of useful advice (3) 10 Red gemstone (4) 12 Liquefy (8) 14 Consumers’ desire for a product (6) 15 Disfigure (6) 17 A blood-sucking fly (8) 18 Part of the eye (4) 21 Feel regret for (3) 22 All the way (2,3,4) 24 Total score (5) 25 Capital of Sri Lanka (7)

DOWN

1 Thighbone (5) 2 Sequence (3) 3 Fit of petty annoyance (4) 4 Very sentimental film (6) 5 Evade (8) 6 Domineering older woman (9) 7 Fully filled (7) 11 An overwhelming surprise (9) 13 Diligence (8) 14 Fault (7) 16 At a standstill (6) 19 An argument (3-2) 20 Cut down (4) 23 Unspecified doctrine (3)