{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Billy took forty winks - that’s novel (9)
8 Irene ruined him (5)
9 Direct speech? (7)
10 Outcast with a song in his heart (6)
11 One awaits developments after its use (6)
12 Loaded statement? (8)
15 It doesn’t hurt when father’s away from home more (8)
18 Yarn wound round a screw (6)
20 Spares may be few and far between (6)
21 Nonintellectual impression about sunburst (7)
22 Strip a firearm? (5)
23 Where children may go between two and five (9)
DOWN
2 Country somewhat rich in dialects (5)
3 They deal with those who have complaints (6)
4 Good enough to get by? (8)
5 As a military detachment, it’s of no importance (6)
6 Consecrates new saint with no heart (7)
7 Obviously guilty, with a fistful of diamonds? (3-6)
11 They work so that others may play (9)
13 Too bored to have an inclination? (8)
14 Highest type of mammal (7)
16 Attend and possibly enlist (6)
17 One is often led to use it by mistake (6)
19 Open a fresh page (5)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Solidity (9)
8 Dislodge (5)
9 Inform (7)
10 Nevertheless (6)
11 Platitude (6)
12 Intimidate (8)
15 Specific (8)
18 Russian monetary unit (6)
20 Originate (6)
21 German cathedral city (7)
22 Discarded as worthless (5)
23 A fine painting (4,2,3)
DOWN
2 Superior (5)
3 Meanly avaricious (6)
4 Gather (8)
5 Shun (6)
6 Record of meeting’s business (7)
7 Then (2,3,4)
11 Moment of landing (9)
13 Fail to notice (8)
14 Absorb (7)
16 Critique (6)
17 Isolated (3,3)
19 Of the moon (5)