{ THE CROSSWORDS }

PUZZLE 15925

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Kept wondering (4,2,5) 9 Fine offer possibly gets it (7) 10 Fur on one animal (5) 11 But they could be even for the better (4) 12 Not men of substance, presumably (8) 14 Take some back to quarters (6) 16 A driving spirit? (6) 18 Listen repeatedly for a sign of approval (4,4) 19 Rode out to become a man of action (4) 22 Naturally it rings the lagoon (5) 23 Ends an interim arrangement (7) 24 A charge made upon income? (8,3)

DOWN

2 Some under reduced circumstances went astray (5) 3 A row about it mounts (4) 4 Thought it will turn up in time (6) 5 A survey not repeated (4-4) 6 Bizarre arrangement for keeping warm (7) 7 Crazy way to score a goal at soccer (3,4,4) 8 Residential form of transport (6,5) 13 Composer has a part written up for a single man (8) 15 A long time out in town getting a dress (3,4) 17 Box adds weight to the vehicle (6) 20 She’s round and full of energy (5) 21 A growing source of fuel (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Pop music production world (3,3,5) 9 Smugly intolerant (7) 10 Courtyard (5) 11 Grape plant (4) 12 International tennis trophy (5,3) 14 Rank in smell (6) 16 Affectionate (6) 18 Fully stated (8) 19 Become insolvent (4) 22 Sky blue (5) 23 Meaning conveyed (7) 24 Principal actress in play (7,4)

DOWN

2 Norwegian dramatist (5) 3 Wan (4) 4 Ordinary (6) 5 Leaning to one side (8) 6 Lured (7) 7 Award for runner-up (6,5) 8 A fine handwriting (11) 13 Payment to shareholders (8) 15 Roman sea god (7) 17 Variety of apple (6) 20 Audibly (5) 21 Spoken (4)