{ THE CROSSWORDS }

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Very good acquisition for an aquarium? (5,4)

8 The alternative in France is grave (5) 9 End a romance and go to pieces (5,2) 10 It often figures in art exhibitions (6) 11 Rascally fellow who organises travel (6) 12 The height of distinction (8)

15 Many take on experiments as trials of ability (8)

18 A sweet little thing to play with (6) 20 Emerges from the foliage (6) 21 Clued in a way to take one in (7)

22 We sat around in a state of anxiety (5) 23 He may investigate an insect and its changing form (9)

DOWN

2 Mean to a girl (5)

3 Allow the Spanish poison to be brought up (6)

4 Shakes with feverish disease and rests badly (8)

5 Rush from Athens (6)

6 Sarcastic extract from a newspaper (7) 7 Respect some hesitation in one’s excuses perhaps (9)

11 Utterly incompetent (9)

13 An occasion of exemplary significance (8) 14 Badly angered and remaining furious (7) 16 Puts up secret amendments (6) 17 Shrinking flower ? (6) 19 Swimming pools of solid construction (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Superior to (1,3,5) 8 Suppress by force (5) 9 Ireland’s patron saint (7) 10 Specimen (6) 11 Specify (6)

12 Desire to eat (8) 15 Decisive argument (8) 18 Defective (6) 20 Clothes (6) 21 Advent (7)

22 Eat greedily (5) 23 Contrite (9)

DOWN

2 Yearn for (5)

3 Sikh male headdress (6) 4 Strong adverse reaction (8) 5 Regard as identical (6) 6 Lose all hope (7)

7 So it is claimed (9) 11 Unload (9)

13 Of necessity (8) 14 Misrepresent (7)

16 Rush headlong (6) 17 Pleasingly old-fashioned (6) 19 Orderly succession (5)