THE CROSSWORDS

PUZZLE 15910

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Noted tranquilliser (6,4)

8 Quietly get the cane out, of hickory (5)

9 Is stout perhaps, so doesn’t dance (4,3) 10 There’s no let-up for the rich (7)

11 First sign of the Greeks (5)

12 Fancy us to be stupid (6)

14 Old sailor goes backwards, gaining publicity (6) 17 Norma is about to describe capital (5) 19 Guide one’s behaviour (7)

21 Classical admission of guilt (7)

22 Start to live on alcohol (5)

23 Catches and understands what’s said (10)

DOWN

2 Tell the likely outcome of a closely fought election? (7)

3 A bun before this social occasion would be plenty (5)

4 Tears out the last letter; it’s only a substitute (6)

5 To argue like this is a crime against humanity (7) 6 Pop’s executors? (5)

7 Tear things to pieces - and put them in order again (10)

8 A positive result (10)

13 Presumably one gets a light tan from it (7) 15 Somehow grudged not being fully conscious of events (7)

16 Lively turn I’ve put on (6)

18 The aim of many a pilgrimage (5) 20 Splendid old coin (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Opera by Verdi (2,8)

8 Play for time (5)

9 State of southeast U.S. (7) 10 Fundamental (7) 11 Frequently (5) 12 Disappear (6)

14 Count of population (6) 17 Staircase handrail support (5) 19 Devious (7) 21 Pakistani port (7)

22 River of south Asia (5) 23 Wagner opera (10)

DOWN

2 Letting oneself go (7)

3 A survival from past (5) 4 Practicable (6) 5 Fashionable (1,2,4)

6 Be in store for (5)

7 French composer (5-5) 8 Russian-born U.S. composer (10) 13 A nonmetallic element (7) 15 Fraudulent scheme (7) 16 Culminating point (6)

18 To defeat (5)

20 Farewell (5)