{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Deception is a part of playing cards (5)
8 Dressing a boy buried in the earth (5,3)
9 Furious about Eastern control (5)
10 They don’t knock off. So going-home time (4,4)
11 The fruits of office? (5)
12 Are out for a time (3)
16 Islander comes out of a trance (6)
17 A miracle colour now being put about (6)
18 An expert well served (3)
23 Original way to create rifts (5)
24 Old port in Labrador, perhaps (8)
25 Fish around in wet conditions (5) 26 Potential pile boss may make (8)
27 Lists some rogues (5)
DOWN
2 Rare lily found broken in the chaff (8)
3 Great misfortune for Jane? (8)
4 Work hard for the party (6)
5 Bets on footballers and retires (5)
6 Loves an anagram to work out (5)
7 Very light, for example (5)
12 Female penal centre (3)
13 We are under a feeling of wonder (3)
14 Pass on information that’s personal (8)
15 Impression about a child according to the time of year (8)
19 Band in the theatre (6)
20 Falls into errors (5)
21 Give rank and number (5)
22 Boy gets pass in (5)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Keenly perceptive (5)
8 Genuine (4,4)
9 Self-assertive (5)
10 Start shooting (4,4)
11 Meditate moodily (5)
12 Fix at a level (3)
16 Government department (6)
17 In complete accord (6)
18 Use diligently (3)
23 Beautiful woman (5)
24 A prehistoric period (5,3)
25 Tranquil (5)
26 Something bound to fail (4,4)
27 Sizeable (5)
DOWN
2 Sharply defined (5-3)
3 Assume control of (4,4)
4 Overbalance and fall (6)
5 Dim (5)
6 To ape (5)
7 Cleave (5)
12 Young dog (3)
13 Make fun of (3)
14 Adjust minutely (4-4)
15 Recklessly intent (4-4)
19 Bequest (6)
20 Apart (5)
21 Brief raid (5) 22 Intoxicating (5)