THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 See men without fruit (5)

8 On balance it’s depressing to do this (8) 9 Crunchy crackers (5)

10 Scanning the books for money owing on the horses (8)

11 Moving stair replaced (5)

12 Time in general (3)

16 Somehow he’s not on the level (6)

17 Fell but kept quiet (3,3)

18 Respect for a regal method of self-expression (3)

23 Support the employees (5)

24 How a bright idea comes to you? (2,1,5) 25 Pain that makes any go wild (5)

26 Girl doctors? How sweet! (8)

27 A team giving confidence to those watching the play (5)

DOWN

2 One slum I refurbish - with this? (8)

3 The stranger is routed another way (8) 4 He’s engaged in outdoor pursuits (6) 5 Vegetable we’d found in the southeast (5) 6 Veto on discredited US leader (5) 7 Strange shape of the moon perhaps (5) 12 Initially when to expect a Greek character (3) 13 Social entertaining often includes drink (3) 14 How slowly one travelled in olden days (2,6) 15 Swindle made to pay - within limits (8) 19 It prevents a leak in a domestic appliance (6) 20 Concerns trees about a thousand (5)

21 The first person an artist goes round and greets (5)

22 Form of social distinction (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Pursuit (5)

8 Confirmed (5,3)

9 Brusque (5)

10 Gradually subsided (4,4) 11 Come into conflict (5)

12 The largest deer (3)

16 Study of plants (6)

17 To leave (2,4)

18 Recede (3)

23 Lukewarm (5)

24 To master (8)

25 Of the sun (5) 26 Forcefully ambitious person (2-6) 27 Farewell (5)

DOWN

2 Searching examination (4,4) 3 Persuade with flattery (4-4) 4 Good-humoured (6)

5 Slyly derogatory (5) 6 Giver (5)

7 An outraged reaction (5) 12 Look at (3)

13 Former Soviet secret police (3) 14 Compensate for (4,4) 15 Playful repartee (8) 19 Unusually plentiful (6) 20 To counterfeit (5) 21 Consider carefully (5) 22 Shrewd (5)