the crosswords

PUZZLE 15607

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Fancy things (5)

8 These plates are used for eating (8)

9 A letter from the taxman (5) 10 and 22 Down: Absorbing news-sheet, sought before the ink is dry (8,5)

11 Assume in pretence (5)

12 Increase for a clergyman (3)

16 Screen off in church (6)

17 Sends for instructions (6)

18 Label that may be applied to wrestling (3) 23 Holding a flower (5)

24 One who goes on watch (8)

25 Start being different (5)

26 Deceives a girl about to go in front (8) 27 A serpent in French, a tree in English (5)

DOWN

2 Hare she’d minced and cooked up again (8) 3 A star of the printed word (8)

4 He’d caught the fish, having leaned over (6) 5 Speak for the government? (5) 6 Exhaust pipe (5)

7 It’s the custom to give us time (5)

12 Skill shown in darts (3)

13 Shadow on the log hearth (3) 14 Possibly resisted one who, on paper, has an important job (8)

15 Custom legislation included in the cost of goods (8)

19 What committee members have to go through (6)

20 Go for a long walk - or take up afternoon painting (5)

21 Pass out with many a twitch (5)

22 See 10 Across

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Hindu ascetic (5)

8 Absurd (8)

9 Indolence (5)

10 Close call (4,4)

11 Precipitous (5)

12 Old, slow boat (3)

16 North American country (6) 17 Evoke (6)

18 Strange (3)

23 Decree (5)

24 Protesting angrily (2,2,4) 25 Socially unacceptable (5) 26 Loss of courage (4,4) 27 Smooth and glossy (5)

DOWN

2 Utterly perplexed (3,2,3) 3 Prevalent (2,3,3)

4 Rich cake (6)

5 Extreme contempt (5) 6 Pungent (5)

7 Melting snow (5) 12 Excessively (3)

13 Bottom of river (3) 14 Unexpected gain (8) 15 Divulge (8)

19 Deadening influence (6) 20 Intuitive feeling (5) 21 Runners in a race (5) 22 Tactless remark (5)